Changing the recycling habits of a school the size of Belmont is no easy task, but these days separating plastics, paper and tetra packs has become the new norm.

For her efforts in helping cement this seismic shift in school culture, Grade 11 student Kati Walters won this yearB次元官网网址檚 Capital Regional District EcoStar award for youth leadership.

The annual EcoStar program highlights environmental initiatives, stewardship and leaders from across the region.

B次元官网网址淚t was hard to change the mindset of recycling nearly nothing (at Belmont) to recycling nearly everything,B次元官网网址� Walters said. B次元官网网址淭o see how far this has come along in one year is amazing.B次元官网网址�

Walters was part of the environmental group in BelmontB次元官网网址檚 leadership program, which played a key role in organizing and motivating students to use recycling bins spread through 100 classrooms.

Walters, 16 and who was born and raised in Langford, said it wasnB次元官网网址檛 easy getting 1,400 students to not only recycle, but to separate out plastics, foils and cans. Leadership students went from class to class, giving short lessons to fellow students on how and what to recycle.

B次元官网网址淎t first it was difficult to get the word out,B次元官网网址� Walters said. B次元官网网址淏ut once bins were in every classroom, recycling became expected. Students encouraged each other.B次元官网网址�

Walters and her fellow leadership students and teachers now spend part of each Friday gathering and sorting refundable pop cans and tetra packs for Alpine Recycling, and plastics, foils and Styrofoam for Pacific Mobile Depots.

B次元官网网址淎t first it was a small group going every Friday from class to class,B次元官网网址� Walters said. B次元官网网址淣ow other classes get involved. ItB次元官网网址檚 a good way for students who normally donB次元官网网址檛 get involved to be involved.B次元官网网址�

Walters admits that just a few years ago, recycling wasnB次元官网网址檛 something she paid much attention to. On a whim in Grade 10, she signed up to volunteer with Pacific Mobile Depots for its monthly Belmont depot.

It was there she learned that all manner of hard and soft plastics, Styrofoam and electronics could be recycled. It was a watershed moment.

B次元官网网址淧MD completely opened my eyes to what can be recycled,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 learned about B次元官网网址榖eyond the blue box,B次元官网网址� and thatB次元官网网址檚 where it all started.B次元官网网址�

Walters went on to volunteer with the Off the Grid festival at City Centre Park and for Earth Day at WestShore Town Centre. She continues to volunteer with PMD at Belmont.

Those efforts were more than enough for Belmont leadership teachers Troy Harris and Kevin Harrington to nominate Walters for the EcoStar award.

B次元官网网址淜ati really played an instrumental role in getting the recycling program up and running,B次元官网网址� Harris said. B次元官网网址淪he recycles to make a difference in the world, not because of leadership class, but she sees value in it. Not a lot of kids see things that way.B次元官网网址�

Harris said he expects BelmontB次元官网网址� recycling program to continue for the next school year, still organized and run by teachers and students volunteering their time. Money earned from refundable bottles and cans helps offset costs for recycling plastics and Styrofoam with PMD, but leadership students still need to fundraise to break even.

Harris said WalterB次元官网网址檚 award demonstrates such programs are worthwhile and worth emulating.

B次元官网网址淲e knew Kati would get the award. We expected her efforts to be recognized. ItB次元官网网址檚 a huge award and it says a lot about our students,B次元官网网址� Harris said. B次元官网网址淲e have an amazing bunch of kids. They are working to make an impact on the school, the community and the world, and Kati is one of the leaders.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com