Why recycle? The students in Suffolk Public Schools know the answer, and they are doing it.

Recycling conserves valuable natural resources, saves energy, saves clean air and clean water and saves landfill space.

Suffolk public schools are collaborating with Trex Company, the leading manufacturer of wood alternative decking, railing and fencing, for their plastic bag recycling drive. The drive started Jan. 15 and ends on Earth Day, April 22. With less than a month left for the drive, Suffolk Public Schools have recycled 154,744 plastic trash bags.

“Suffolk Public Schools is thrilled that our students and staff have taken such a strong ownership in this effort to save the planet,” said Bethanne Bradshaw, public information and community relations officer for Suffolk Public Schools. “The plastic bag recycling project has provided our students, staff and school families a real-life, hands-on lesson in improving the environment.”

The participating schools include Southwestern Elementary, Kilby Shores Elementary, Kings Fork Middle, Turlington Woods School, Northern Shores Elementary, Booker T. Washington Elementary, John F. Kennedy Middle, Nansemond River High and John Yeates Middle School.

Chad Oxton, engineering data technician for the city of Suffolk, spearheaded the drive. He is thrilled about the number of bags that will be recycled.

“The City of Suffolk appreciates the efforts put forth by the staff and students at the 10 Suffolk public schools that are participating in this plastic-bag recycling drive,” Oxton said. “As of April 1, with three weeks remaining in this drive, these schools have diverted more than 150,000 plastic bags from our landfill, streets, ditches and farm fields.”

“We in the alternative education program were especially pleased to undertake participation in the program, because we used it as an incentive to the teaching of our other core areas of study,” said Barbara Edwards, who teaches alternative education at Kings Fork Middle School. “We have studied the environment and the effect that plastic has on the landfills and used this as an ecological project. Beyond all of that we have stressed the importance of being good citizens through the concept of civic mindedness and taking care of our environment.”

Each year, Trex utilizes more than 1 billion recycled grocery bags to create its environmentally friendly decking, railing and fencing products, keeping the plastic bags out of landfills locally and across the country.

By working with Trex, local schools and students learn the importance of recycling, keep plastic bags out of landfills and are rewarded for their efforts. Trex will award one elementary, one middle and one high school with a bench for their schools for collecting the most bags.

“I am so proud of each and every school and thank you for your time and participation,” said Amanda Harrington, Recycling Promotions Coordinator for Trex. It feels so good to find a school that puts 110 percent into this program, but an entire city? Wow! Suffolk City Schools joined together and exceeded any of my expectations, and recycled such a large amount in three short months.”