CALABASAS : Students Rate Local Businesses on Recycling

Businesses that don’t recycle have had a lot of explaining to do lately--to, of all people, a bunch of Bay Laurel Elementary School third-graders who launched a campaign to promote recycling.

The students, who call themselves the Radical Recyclers, visited about 40 local businesses to see firsthand which are recycling. The kids--who telephoned in advance--toured the premises and asked questions, such as whether the businesses buy products that have already been recycled.

The students devised their own rating system--from a failing score of zero on up to four--said their teacher, Lisa Turek. The project is part of the children’s classroom activities.

The students gave pep talks to businesses that failed and have been handing out awards this week to the businesses that stand out.

Seven of the businesses received the highest rating, Turek said, and two received zeros. “The stores that don’t pass will get tips on how to be more Earth-friendly,” she said. “Then, there will be follow-ups within a month or two.”

Some students said some of the businesses they contacted were uncooperative. Student Jenna Sherman said she was treated rudely by one of the business people she telephoned.

“They just said they weren’t interested,” said Jenna. “It’s not nice, because first of all, I’m just a little kid, and second of all, they are using Styrofoam, when they could use recyclable plastic.”

One establishment that got a four rating was Pelican’s Retreat, a bar and restaurant in Calabasas visited by Sean Wax. Shambi Huddleston, a manager, said the business has designated recycling bins for paper, cardboard and bottles. Huddleston said he was impressed with Sean’s poise.

“I appreciated that, for his age, he was knowledgeable about what’s going on, and that he was concerned about what was going on,” he said.

The children, Turek said, are learning that, despite their age, they can do something about the earth’s problems.

“If adults don’t recycle, then kids can help,” Jenna said. “They can do a lot of things at their school. And they can tell their parents to buy (recyclable plastics) at home.”

“The kids are finding out that they really can make a difference within their community,” Turek said. “I don’t know if they consider themselves as children; they see themselves as people, and this is a concern for people.”