The Orinda Academy (OA) announced that it has received an award from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) in recognition of its success in reducing mercury pollution. The school's efforts were recognized at its annual awards ceremony on Thursday, June 10, 2010. Orinda Academy faculty members Bob Shayler and Ben Lavender accepted the award.
"We are pleased to be honored by the CCCSD," says Ron Graydon, director of Orinda Academy. "The OA community of faculty and students is committed to doing its part to protect the environment."
For the past several years the CCCSD has been collaborating with public and private schools in Central Contra Costa County to control the amount of mercury released into the environment. This is the first year that the program is recognizing private schools. Orinda Academy is one of three private schools in the area receiving the award.
Mercury is found in school science labs as well as thermostats, fluorescent bulbs and batteries. Several tons of mercury-containing items are inappropriately thrown away every year in the United States according to the CCCSD.
"Reducing the amount of mercury that gets into the water is a big area of concern for us, and we appreciate Orinda Academy's commitment to controlling sources of mercury including minimizing its future purchases," says Tim Potter, CCCSD's environmental compliance superintendent.
"We are pleased to be honored by the CCCSD," says Ron Graydon, director of Orinda Academy. "The OA community of faculty and students is committed to doing its part to protect the environment."
For the past several years the CCCSD has been collaborating with public and private schools in Central Contra Costa County to control the amount of mercury released into the environment. This is the first year that the program is recognizing private schools. Orinda Academy is one of three private schools in the area receiving the award.
Mercury is found in school science labs as well as thermostats, fluorescent bulbs and batteries. Several tons of mercury-containing items are inappropriately thrown away every year in the United States according to the CCCSD.
"Reducing the amount of mercury that gets into the water is a big area of concern for us, and we appreciate Orinda Academy's commitment to controlling sources of mercury including minimizing its future purchases," says Tim Potter, CCCSD's environmental compliance superintendent.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA