The students in Dunsmuir middle schoolB次元官网网址檚 life skills class could barely keep still with excitement as they received a cheque for $1,000 on Tuesday for their hardworking recycling efforts.

The Return-It program tracks how many bottles and cans each school recycles and awards first, second and third prizes for small, medium and large-sized schools.

This year, Dunsmuir won top spot in the middle category for a second time.

Encorp, the parent recycling company, hands out the awards after the school year ends and Island schools get an extra bonus.

B次元官网网址淭he Island actually does a fantastic job of recycling,B次元官网网址� said Kelly Gorman, operations manager for the Bottle Depot.

B次元官网网址淪o we decided that any school that won here, we would match what they won.B次元官网网址�

Gorman was on hand to present the cheque to the Colwood schoolB次元官网网址檚 life skills class on Tuesday. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 great to come back,B次元官网网址� she said with a smile.

With their previous award, the life skills class purchased three sturdy recycling bins for the school, as well as gloves and supplies for the kids who volunteer to sort through cans and piles of paper.

B次元官网网址淭his year weB次元官网网址檙e hoping to set up a greenhouse to teach the kids how to grow some of their own food,B次元官网网址� said Erin Larson, one of the life skills teachers. The vegetables grown could then be used in their foods class, she added, where the students learn how to prepare healthy, balanced meals.

B次元官网网址淲e also do a big shop for the local food bank every Christmas.B次元官网网址�

The class will also likely purchase one more recycling bin for the school in their ongoing efforts to make being green as easy as ABC.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com