Helping the environment by recycling at the Five Towns Community Center in Lawrence

Since Memorial Day, the Five Towns Community Center bottle and can drive fundraiser has taught children the importance of recycling while at the same time raising roughly $500. 

Pete Sobol, the community center’s interim executive director, said the inspiration for the fundraiser was to support the center’s STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) program, while also introducing the concept of recycling to reduce the carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

“I think this drive has gone great,” Sobol said. “People have been generous with their contributions. We’re probably going to extend it a week or two after Labor Day.” The fundraiser was originally scheduled to end on Sept. 2, but Sobol noted the end date is still being determined. 

Carbon footprint is defined as the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds that are emitted through the consumption of fossil fuels. Greenhouse gases are gases that contribute to the greenhouse effect by absorbing infrared radiation, such as carbon dioxide and chlorofluorocarbons. 

Sobol added that the proceeds will benefit the center, which over the past few years has lost a substantial portion of its funding because from the county and other financial support. “We’re hoping to refurbish the basketball court at some point,” he said. “We’re also looking to add a security guard to the center since we currently don’t have the money in our budget for one.” 

Evtek, a Bayport-based company, brought a 20-foot container for the bottles and cans to the Lawrence site in late May. The company’s founder, Martin Naro led the presentation at the community center on July 15 about recycling for roughly 100 children and thought it was well received. “I wanted to show the kids how they can recycle and what kind of materials are recyclable,” he said. “I made it interactive by having the kids play a game where they identified if an item is recyclable, redeemable or neither.” 

Naro confirmed all the bottles and cans from the center will be picked up by Brentwood-based, All Deposits. The recyclables will then be taken to a redemption center where collected recyclable material is burned and then shipped to their destinations by train or buried in a landfill. 

Chris Sidoti of All Deposits introduced Naro to Sobol and noted why a drive like this is important. “It’s been great working with Pete and the community center,” he said. “Teaching children about recycling is an important thing to do.” All Deposits has held similar fundraisers such as Bottles for the Brave, to help military veterans, breast cancer, the Lustgarten Foundation to fight pancreatic cancer.

“I would love to make this a long-term partnership with the community center,” Naro said. “It gets the kids involved while raising awareness for an environmental cause. Each person can make an impact by donating just one bottle.” 

Sobol said he would like the fundraiser to become an annual event as the community’s response was positive. “This fundraiser is another example that shows what a fabulous community the Five Towns is,” he said. “For the past 30 years, I’ve knocked on the door and the community has responded every time.” 

The fundraiser has extended past Labor Day and more recyclables can be donated to the Five Towns Community Center, at 270 Lawrence Ave. in Lawrence.