The City of Ann Arbor is always looking for ways to become more environmentally friendly and eliminate waste. In its efforts, Recycle Ann Arbor was recently awarded $51,500 in grants by the State of Michigan for two educational programs.
The first of the funds will be used for the "Zero Waste Event Initiative" that educates residents on recycling during public activities such as festivals.
Christine Chessler-Stull, coordinator for that initiative says "On average (we've been doing this for three years now) we have had a 92% waste diversion at these events."
$32,000 will go to a second program that will teach students in public schools about recycling.
Chessler Stull says that the children are the ones that go to their parents and ask about recycling in the home, and get really excited about the process when they share what they've learned in school
In addition to Ann Arbor, Dexter and Dearborn will be a focus for both initiatives.