Vernon students take on plastic pains

VERNON — Worldwide, there are about 300 million tons of plastic produced each year.
Out of the 300 million tons of plastic produced, an estimated 10 percdent is recycled, leaving the other 90 percent in landfills, oceans and even on the side of the road. Every year, more than 100,000 animals die from either ingesting or getting tangled in plastic.
In order to raise awareness about saving the environment, members of Vernon Township DECA, Devon Johnson, Derek Bogdewicz and Shayna Lazar, teamed up with the Science National Honors Society to sell reusable Vernon water bottles in place of plastic water bottles. Meeting their goal of 100 reusable bottles, they were able to purchase a new filtered water system for a school water fountain and are currently hoping to sell more bottles so they can purchase more filtration systems.
The filtration system tells you how many plastic bottles you are saving with every fill-up. This not only helps the school but the environment as a whole. The bottles, which sell for $10, are BPA-free.