Their efforts began in 2007, when Mauldin Middle received a 10� x 10� solar panel for hands-on learning from Laurens Electric Cooperative and Santee Cooper. The students and staff embraced the �green�concept and began implementation of the �Mauldin Middle Goes Green� program.

Today, Mauldin Middle students and staff recycle plastics, paper, batteries, tennis shoes, newspapers, telephone books, ink cartridges, and electronics. Student groups such as Student Council and the Science Club sponsor monthly recycling drives to encourage homerooms to bring in recyclables. For one drive the school recycled over 4,000 telephone books.

The G3 or Go Green Group has been active for two years. G3�s mission is to work locally to improve Mauldin Middle and the environment for this generation and generations to come. Students want to create cleaner, safer neighborhoods by working together with neighbors to improve our local environmental quality.

Last year the G3 team helped organize two Media Days and an Earth Day celebration, as well as recycled items throughout the year. This year students have organized videos to encourage their peers to recycle, planned a field trip to a local landfill, kicked off an America Recycles Day celebration and is currently planning an Earth celebration where local businesses are invited to participate.

Mauldin Middle was named "Recycling School of the Year" last year by the Greenville County Solid Waste Division and received a bench made of recycled plastics. Each year the school also receives the DHEC's recycling grant to fund the school�s initiatives.

(Images provided by the National Recycling Coalition.)