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Turning trash into treasure at Eco Fling

By PAMELA GRANT
Cove Leader-Press

Most people look at empty water bottles and used toilet paper rolls and see nothing but trash, but the creative folks at Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful (KCCB) see them as opportunities.
KCCB hosted its first Spring Eco Fling Saturday morning at Ogletree Gap Park. From 10 a.m. until noon, participants could learn how to take those empty water bottles and toilet paper rolls and turn them into creative crafts. Using the toilet paper rolls, participants could make bird feeders and octopi. Using all parts of the water bottles, participants made seed planters, flowers, bracelets, and painter palettes. To further show off just how creative one can be with recyclable items, the group also hosted a recycling themed fashion show from noon until 1 p.m. 
“We wanted to highlight what can be made from recyclable items—something people maybe don’t think of,” said KCCB Executive Director Silvia Rhoads.
“We want to provide events and entertainment for the city while at the same time bringing awareness to recycling and recyclable products,” added Adam Wolf, KCCB President.
The Eco Fling was made possible through the efforts of KCCB, the National Honor Society, CCHS fashion club, and the CCHS graphic arts class. Several high schoolers were at the event both helping out and participating.
“We really like helping the community,” said Bridget Van Hecke, National Honor Society President. “It really opened my eyes to see that we could actually use recyclable materials to make really unique things.”
Annie Zehr ran a table showing participants how to make a plastic bottle flower using the bottom of any bottle, a straw, paint, and some creativity. She talked about how they were able to use every part of the bottle for different crafts. The bottom was used for her craft, the middles of the bottles were used to make bracelets, and the lids were used for the painter palette project. Zehr said that Pinterest was a huge inspiration for coming up with the crafts.
 “It’s awesome. You’re already drinking out of a water bottle, so instead of throwing it into a recycle bin where it’s taking up space, now we’re using it for a fun activity,” said Zehr.
Zehr said her own kids are involved with volunteering and recycling. She said that it’s important that they learn that volunteering isn’t a chore. “Awareness starts with the youth,” said Zehr.
Jeniffer Caballero attended the event with her mother and her two younger brothers, Jona Matter and Fares Matter. Caballero said that she thought the event was really cool and really creative. She said that it was fun and she thought both of her brothers were enjoying it.
“It’s really cool because it helps the environment,” said Fares Matter. He said that making the seed planter was his favorite craft.
“It’s good for the Earth, and we get to make cool crafts,” said Jaiden Morris (8) who enjoyed the event while making many of the crafts with her sister and father.

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