East Falls: Penn Charter Combines Art and Recycling

Jonathan Howe showed what's filling their boxes
Penn Charter first graders explored the Arts + Re-Creation gallery with a scavenger hunt list.
Penn Charter first-graders explored the Arts + Re-Creation gallery with a scavenger hunt list.

Below the Old Gym at William Penn Charter School, jumbo cardboard crates are filling up with discarded computers, printers and coffee makers; everything has a cord. There’s even an electric lawnmower. Above, on a basketball court turned into art gallery, students have been perusing found object sculptures by renowned artists like Leo Sewell, Steve Tobin and Dewey Blocksma.

Lynne Dorman, the parent chairwoman of the art show, said it was her goal to tie the school’s triennial art show and its annual e-waste drive together leading up to Earth Day on Monday. The theme of the art show was “Arts + Re-Creation” with a focus on nature and recycling. The artists who donated their time and work were paid with old junk for new projects like buttons, hula hoops or bowling trophies collected by the school, located at 3000 W. School House Lane.

The exhibit was open to students and their families April 13-19 and those who attended were encouraged to bring their old electronics for recycling. On Sunday, the school will host its e-waste drive from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the middle school parking lot. The event is open to the public.

Jonathan Howe showed what's filling their boxes
Jonathan Howe showed what’s filling their boxes

“People can just drive up, open their trunk, we’ll take the stuff out and they can just drive off,” said Jonathan Howe, a biology teacher and coordinator of the Green Club. “We need to keep these hazardous materials out of the landfill. These chemicals find their way into our water systems, our wildlife.”

Along with electronics, the school is collecting used alkaline batteries and CFL bulbs. Everything will be recycled through eForce Compliance, a partner of the EPA. They cannot accept large kitchen appliances like ovens and refrigerators.

“This is our earth and we have one opportunity to sustain it and to preserve it for future generations,” said Dorman. “We can’t blow that opportunity.”

For more information visit https://www.penncharter.com/page.cfm?p=1641

Boxes full of e-waste
Boxes full of e-waste

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