Congratulations to the Aurelia M. Cole Academy for earning the statewide Best in Class Award for exceptional work with the StyroGenie recycling machine this school year!
"When the students are finished eating, their foam trays are emptied and then stacked, and the custodians place the stacked foam trays into the StyroGenie," explained Linda Milliken, director of Food and Nutrition Services at Lake County Schools. "The StyroGenie runs at night to melt down the foam. The briquettes are then taken out and stacked on a pallet for pickup. Foodservice Sustainability Solutions picks up the briquettes and recycles them back into polystyrene that can be used to produce more foam or other consumer goods."
The recycling process results in 95% foam waste volume reduction, 70% reduction in waste removal costs, and 100% landfill diversion. It also contributes to the preservation of natural resources and the reduction of carbon dioxide.
"The team at the school collected the most blocks and was the most efficient user in the entire state of Florida," Jason Womack of FSS stated in an email message informing the district about the award. "Job well done!"
LCS has StyroGenies at Lake Point Academy, Fruitland Park Elementary, Minneola Horizon Academy, and the Aurelia M. Cole Academy. "Hopefully, the district will continue to use and install more StyroGenies so this program will expand and make a huge impact on our environment," Milliken said.