BCSD

2006 Kern County Telephone Book Recycling Program

Thorner Elementary School kicked off the 2006 Kern County Telephone Book Recycling Program from a hot air balloon hovering 50 feet in the air. Thorner was selected to kick off the program because they recycle more telephone books than any other school in the United States. Last year  the students collected over 26 tons of phone books to recycle. At 3.4 pounds per book, that’s 15,294 phone books recycled or 19 phone books per student.

During the morning activities, different dignitaries from Kern County joined the recycling program by throwing phone books from the hot air balloon. They were aiming for a target, a recycle symbol, which was 50 feet beneath them.

Different methods were used to get the phone book to the target; some duck taped them together, others dropped the phone book sideways, and some just let go! Although the wind was blowing and different aiming methods were used, everyone managed to be within an 8-foot radius of the target.  

The 2006 Kern County Telephone Book Recycling Program is sponsored by Kern County Waste Management, AT&T Yellow Pages and Community Clean Sweep. The recycling program runs from March 24 through April 18, 2006. Community members interested in recycling can drop off the phone books at local schools, most community drop off Recycling Centers, or by calling AT&T Recycling Hotline at 1-800-953-4400, to find the recycling center nearest you.

To view news coverage of the event, click here.