Brant Evans advocates for recycling program in Franklin
by Eric A Thomas
Most of us prefer to live in a clean dwelling, free from dust and grime. We are fortunate to have two homes, our physical dwelling and planet Earth. I live by myself but many people live with their families, and we all create a lot of garbage. With 7.9 billion people living on this planet, that’s a lot of trash.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States produces the most trash in the world at around 1,600 pounds per person per year. Dry recyclables such as paper, metal, and plastic make up 38% of the global waste. Since the 1970s many communities have joined the recycling effort to help improve our surroundings. One 2nd grader in Franklin, Illinois, wants to see his community get on board.
“My family moved here from Murrayville. We had recycling there,” stated Brant Evans. “I am worried that more people are polluting and we could lose our world.”
Knowing that Franklin did not have a community recycling program, he started talking about his concern with his teacher, who also happens to be his mother, Danielle Evans.
“It just popped into my head one day. My heart sent something to my head that if we lose this world then we can’t leave and then we won’t have a place to live,” Evans said.
After some heart-to-hearts with his mom, he thought, “Why doesn’t the school get recycling started in Franklin?” Next stop, Christy Willman, the principal.
The students at Franklin already know the value of recycling within the school walls.
“Prior to COVID, our district had recycling bins in each of the classrooms,” remarked Willman. “We recycled paper.” Franklin high school students went around and collected the paper from all the bins and the maintenance department would deliver all the paper to get recycled. After talking with Evans, the principal encouraged him to take his idea to the school board. “My principal gave me the idea, so I did it,” added Evans.
On January 26, Evans took his concerns and idea before the Franklin Community Unit School District #1 Board of Education in hopes that they would help the community help save the world.
It was a big task for a little guy but Evans was up for the challenge. Putting his nerves aside and being concise with his thoughts, Evans stood before the Board and delivered his speech:
Dear Mr. Waggener, Mrs. Willman, and school board,
I think we need a recycling bin for the community at our school. I think this because we pollute our planet. We can’t move to Mars. Please think about the planet and our people.
From Brant Evans
The school board thinks it is a great idea and they support it 100%. They hope that they can be instrumental in starting a recycling program in Franklin. On January 27 Evans read the same statement in front of the whole school at the morning meeting. Everyone present thought it was a great idea as well!
There are many benefits to recycling. It reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators, it conserves natural resources such as timber, water and minerals and saves energy.
Those cans, bottles, paper and boxes that get recycled become a commodity which are resold to manufacturers as raw materials. They use them to produce more products. Recycled plastics are used to make other plastic containers, picnic tables, lawn furniture, playground equipment and recycling bins. Recycled paper can become building insulation, kitty litter, sheetrock, countertops and paper plates.
Brant lives in Franklin with his dad and mom, Jake and Danielle Evans, and his older brother, Owen, an 8th grader at Franklin.
