The Zeller Family Foundation and nonprofit organization Recycle Montana teamed up to award schools funding for the purchase of a trailer to be utilized for recycling.

Schools were given an opportunity to apply in 2023 online at the Recycle Montana website with the winners selected in January of 2024. 

Executive director of Recycle Montana Candi Zion stated, “This is our second year to give money to a school for a recycling trailer. The first year, Big Timber FFA (Future Farmers of America) retrofitted an older trailer that they use for community and school events. We had such a hard time selecting a winner for 2023 that we decided to pick two; Big Sandy and Superior High Schools. It worked out perfectly as both of their grant application budgets, together, totaled just about what we had to offer.”

The grant applicants were required to identify what they could recycle and where it could be taken, why they deserved funding for the trailer and why it was important, who would benefit, how they planned to sustain the collection of recyclables, trailer examples, and a budget for the project.

Superior High School’s Ski Club and Carissa Kuhl, Superior Elementary School counselor, wrote their application to expand an existing recycling program for the benefit of their club. Their plan involves using the trailer to collect recyclables at events such as the St. Patrick’s Day Festival, Mineral County Fair and Rodeo, and Mineral County Rec. Club Paddle Board Race. They partnered with the Superior Recycling Center and will collect plastic and aluminum to be processed at the center. 

Kuhl states in the application, “This mobile unit will provide an efficient and functional way for our Ski Club students to fulfill their campus service-learning project of providing recycling to all staff, students, and visitors on our campus, replacing our current system. The aluminum cans collected will be turned in for reimbursement, which will be used to pay costs that may create obstacles for youth recreating with our Ski Club.” 

They propose to create a community reservation calendar for partners to check-out this “mobile unit”. They plan to advertise its availability until it becomes a familiar fixture in the community. 

That being said, the project's completion deadline is December of 2024. Once the project is completed, community members may reserve the mobile recycling unit by emailing [email protected], or calling (406) 200-8282.