Dumpster with overflow of cardboard boxes

Students pleased with their achievement

Old Dominion Job Corps Center has a Green Committee that is dedicated to recycling and all things “green”.  Every Wednesday is Recycling Wednesday and members of our maintenance staff and their student assistants gather recyclables from all offices and areas on Center.  The Center’s Green Committee provided containers for paper and plastic recyclables in each office area.

ODJCC’s Career Technical Training Manager, Mr. Gray, is a leader in our green activities and Chairperson of the Green Committee.  He was recognized last year with an award for his contributions to the Healthy Eating and Active Life Styles initiatives in Job Corps.  Mr. Gray was the Region II winner of “The Best Health Mentor” award for starting a program called “Gate Busters”.  He was nominated by numerous staff at Old Dominion who witnessed the positive effects of his “Gate Busters” program.

On January 4, 2012, the day after our students arrived back on Center from Winter break, the dumpsters outside the dorms overflowed with cardboard boxes.  Our ever observant and aware CTT Manger and Green Committee Chairperson observed the cardboard box situation and immediately took action.  He asked for volunteers and students in the hard trades assisted in breaking down, organizing and stacking the cardboard for reuse and recycling.

Our student volunteers did a great job in not so great conditions.  The weather was frigid!  Our Center stored some of the boxes for reuse and recycled the unusable boxes.  Kudos to Mr. Gray and our wonderful students who accomplished this task.