Successful Styrofoam Collection!

Thanks to everyone for contributing to the successful Hanover/Norwich Styrofoam/Lights collection on Saturday, January 25, 2025!

Intrepid volunteers including teens from Youth in Action and the Hanover High School Environmental Club, nonagenarians from Kendal, and all ages in-between braved the frigid temperature to get the job done! Through  their  efforts, they took in 253 loads brought by car and walk-ins. 

Two 26 foot UHauls were completely stuffed, leaving another 14 bags to be transported by a third truck.  That's a lot of styrofoam that's going to be remade into new products.

For the string lights, the poundage is not yet determined but there were 8 bags destined to a metal recycler in Vermont. We know from receiving many thank you's from the folks bringing styrofoam and lights that this event is much appreciated. Another sign of their appreciation is the voluntary donations, which came to a record $1,654 to cover expenses for this project.

If you're interested in who brought all that foam and lights ... 72% of the cars were from Hanover and Norwich, the rest came from 13 other towns. Kendal, Ledyard Bank, Norwich Congregational Church, and a Thayer Engineering Lab collected and sent sizable amounts as well.

Special thanks to the team of drivers Bill Brown, Star Johnson, Andy Scherer and Ben Steele and the afternoon clean-up and storage team Ann Carper, Doug Deaett, Kathy Jones, Beth McKinnon, Andy Scherer and Ben Steele.

Last but not least, thanks to the Richmond Middle School for the use of their facility, and thanks also to Hanover Public Works, Hanover Rotary, Hanover Lions Club, Hartford Recycling, Sheridan Printing, and the Sustainable Hanover Recycling/Waste Reduction team for their invaluable support. This collection was jointly sponsored by the Norwich Solid Waste Committee and Sustainable Hanover.

The next Styrofoam collection in the Upper Valley will be April 12 in Lebanon.

*Edited from WHO KNEW (February 3, 2025)