The Student Environmental Awareness League, SEAL Club, was awarded $1,000 on March 7 to support their electronic waste removal service proposal. The grant program, offered by The Mississippi Recycling Coalition, supports the mission of non-profit organizations that work to promote and grow recycling efforts in the state.   

SEAL Club plans to expand their current recycling program and develop electronic waste removal services this semester. The club’s current recycling program consists of around ten recycling bins placed throughout campus to encourage both students and staff to reduce waste accumulating in the landfills. Materials that can be recycled currently include paper, corrugated cardboard, #1 and #2 plastic bottles and boxes of similar substance. Student volunteers and club members then compile the bins and transport them to a larger bin collected by the Columbus City Recycling Center. The club proposes the idea to allow for recycling of electronic waste on campus along with the current recyclable materials. The club believes that because electronics are the fastest growing portion of the waste stream, it is imperative that students learn to dispose of old cell phones, laptops, batteries, and chargers in an efficient manner.

“I feel like this grant is a bridge into expanding our recycling program to incorporate e-waste disposal systems, which are really expensive to implement,” SEAL Co-President Steven Chung said. “Since MSMS has such a huge influence in Columbus from our community service programs as well as our academic image, we could ask locals to let us take care of their e-waste. So many families let old electronics sit at home, but if they let us handle it for them, it’s a win-win. They can get of pesky junk, and we could sell it to facilities to help the club grow. If this goes well, I don’t think a Golden Triangle-wide e-waste drive hosted by MSMS would be far-fetched. Hopefully, in the coming years they’ll be able to spread this throughout the state.”

As MSMS students live in a residential setting, SEAL aims to serve as the state’s hub for e-waste removal. Students who come from all corners of the state can bring their old or broken electronic devices so that they can be collected in one central location at MSMS and then disposed of properly.

SEAL Sponsor Dr. Bill Odom is a science instructor at MSMS with a passion for aiding his students and their determined efforts.

“There are two things we’re looking to do. The first of which is to try and educate younger students about recycling and to instill in them an environmental conscientiousness. Environmentalism is not free, and it has to live in the minds of  the people and they need to be taught it and we need to work at that. The other thing is that most places do a poor job of recycling e-waste, and I think it’s an opportunity for us to take the lead on that, hopefully statewide,” Odom said.

Along with serving as the statewide hub for e-waste removal, SEAL is also determined to focus on community outreach opportunities to promote wider awareness of the dangers of waste accumulation in landfills. SEAL plans to hold informational presentations with the local Boys & Girls Club Columbus to inform and encourage students from a young age to involve their families in the effort to save the planet.

Anna Mynatt is SEAL’s Treasurer with a passion for the club’s interest in community outreach.

“MSMS is a role model for many people and organizations. I feel like this grant will allow SEAL to expand our recycling capabilities, which will in turn, influence surrounding schools and people. The students at MSMS are also from all corners of the state, so they will be able to take this experience to their hometowns and be advocates for recycling,” Mynatt said.

The awarded grant amount will impact the students and staff in a manner that motivates them to continue the school’s recycling efforts and introduce new recycling methods to the community with the implementation of electronic waste removal services.