The Association of Vermont Recyclers (AVR), founded in 1982, is best known for its educational theater programs and its in-class presentations on recycling and other various environmental topics. But did you know that AVR is much more? During its twenty-plus year existence, AVR has been a leader in shaping and defining Vermont's recycling efforts and goals.
The focus of AVR Education and School Technical Assistance Programs is: Recycling, Composting, Household Hazardous Waste & Watershed Awareness. AVR's interactive programs encourage students to think critically and create alternative waste reduction strategies for their schools. AVR integrates the arts, multiple learning skills and the Vermont Standards into its programs. AVR also facilitates service-learning opportunities by empowering youth to create and implement school and community projects.
AVR currently offers 10 theater shows and 5 active workshops, addressing environmental concepts and ethics of sustainability. Our services are essential in this rural state, where small town tax bases prohibit specialized programming. AVR programs also help towns satisfy the educational component of their solid waste plans.
Some of our projects are described below:
AVR works with teens to support a statewide network of environmental clubs to form the Youth Environmental Coalition (YEC). AVR helps youth analyze solid & hazardous waste problems and offers technical assistance to change behavior and policies.
AVR created and continues to offer the Vermont Youth Environmental Summit (YES!). AVR works with about 20 high school students statewide to plan this conference for Vermont high school students. The Summit provides up to 75 students a structured educational conference that highlights many environmental topics and issues.
AVR also leads Healthy Homes - Clean Waters, a program that educates Vermonters about the dangers of toxic chemicals commonly found in household products, how to safely dispose of them and how to purchase or make affordable, safe alternatives. Through educational exhibits, workshops and Eco-Parties, AVR helps individuals make the connection between the use of toxic household products, human health and the contamination of our waters.
AVR provides School Technical Assistance, working with administrators, custodians, school nurses, teachers and students to adopt environmentally friendly waste management and product purchasing in their schools. Areas include:
· Environmentally Preferable Cleaning Products
· Hazardous Products: Reduction, Disposal & Replacement
· Waste Stream Analysis & School-Wide Recycling and Composting
AVR currently assists schools with on and off-site compost pilot projects through an Agency of Natural Resource grant. In conjunction with the VT Department of Health's ENVISION program, AVR works with schools to help them switch to Environmentally Preferable cleaning products, practices and policies.
AVR Staff:
Randy Pratt, Executive Director: director@vtrecyclers.org
Currenty Vacant-Education Programs Manager: education@vtrecyclers.org
Faeye Anwyn, Administrative Assistant: dir_admn@vtrecyclers.org
Krista Harness, Youth Environmental Coalition Coordinator: yec@vtrecyclers.org
Charen Fegard, Environmental Health Programs Manager: techassist@vtrecyclers.org
Bill Pelton & Kendra Gratton, Actors: admin@vtrecyclers.org
