The Bellefontaine High School Envirothon Club has received a $1,000 grant from Battelle that will be used to implement recycling at the 2022 Columbus Marathon.
For more than 10 years, Bellefontaine students have volunteered time to maintain and clean up the finish line of the marathon.
The pupils observed that all waste was placed in the same container and taken to a landfill.
Environmentally-conscious students noticed and wanted to work to reduce the carbon footprint of the event by separating refuse to enable the recycling of plastics, cardboard, and aluminum.
Through the Teen EcoSummit that is held at the Columbus Zoo, BHS students wrote an action plan to make ecological improvements.
They were then approved for the grant.
Seniors Connor Skidmore and Katie Pool were instrumental in the process.
“We are excited to promote ‘going green’ at an event with so much exposure,” Katie said.
“I hope to see this recycling effort expand to other large scale events throughout the state,” Skidmore added.
Envirothon members along with adviser Kristy Mount and BHS Assistant Principal Cliff Core are working with Columbus Marathon representative Rose Smith to have the recycling in place for the Oct. 15 race.