Columbia team arranges recycling at fire stations
Team leaders Puja Chopade, Neha Chopade and Timothy Zhu, in front, arranged for recycle drop-offs for bottle caps at Madison fire stations. Battalion Chief Steve Perry with Madison Fire and Rescue Department, in back, stands with the students at the recycling bin. CONTRIBUTED/Samantha Magnuson
Madison, Madison County Record, News, Schools, Z - News Main
 By  GreggParker Published 
4:55 pm Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Columbia team arranges recycling at fire stations

MADISON – Residents now can recycle plastic bottle caps in bins at Madison fire stations. Columbia Elementary School students proposed and coordinated the recycling innovation.

Puja Chopade, Neha Chopade and Timothy Zhu led the project after discovering that bottle caps do not qualify as other plastics, paper and materials that Madison residents place in their blue recycle bins each week.

During research into this environmental problem, “We observed that people in our community recycle plastic bottles, along with their plastic caps in their recycling bin. The recycling agency that is in charge of taking the contents of the blue bins, however, does not take the plastic bottle caps,” Zhu said for his team.

Residents can deposit bottle caps in yellow recycle bins located at all Madison City Fire Stations; the addresses are 101 Mill Road (at City Hall); 1227 Hughes Road; and 12266 County Line Road. When the bins are full, workers will transport bottle caps to a warehouse in Huntsville and then move the caps for recycling at K.W. Plastics in Troy.

Team advisor Beena Chopade said some of the country’s leaders today doubt that humans impact the environment. “It is refreshing and very encouraging to find a progressive and supportive leader in a small town of Madison, Alabama who did not think twice to back the leaders of tomorrow in their endeavor to enlighten every resident of Madison to do their part for their environment.”

“We are very thankful for our Mayor Paul Finley’s support in making our project a reality,” Beena Chopade said.

The plastic caps end up either in landfills from peoples’ garbage or in waterways harming various types of aquatic life, Zhu said. “Either way, there is a negative environmental impact since. There is no proper recycling for plastic caps in our community.”

Puja Chopade, Neha Chopade and Timothy Zhu presented their findings to Madison City Council at its Aug. 14 meeting. Council members acknowledged the students for their civic efforts.

In addition, the Columbia team participated in the eCybermission Challenge that the Army Educational Outreach Program sponsored and won first in Alabama in the six-grade division. Columbia students also earned first-place honors for the entire Southeast region of United States and were national finalists.

Also on The Madison Record
‘Light Up the Night’ with Huntsville Parks & Recreation at Big Spring Park
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
July 24, 2025
Dr. John Blevins receives Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medal, premier award for career federal employees
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
July 24, 2025
Central role Redstone Arsenal plays in national security highlighted in judiciary committee hearing
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
July 23, 2025
Downtown Madison celebrates kickoff to Main Street Madison
A: Main, Business, Madison County Record, ...
Snapshot
Staff Reports 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Madison leaders joined downtown business owners and officials with the Madison Street Alabama program on Thursday to officially kick off the...
Civic groups to conduct candidate forums on Aug. 12 and 19
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Two upcoming forums seek questions from residents for the candidates to answer
Gregg Parker 
July 23, 2025
MADISON – The 2025 Municipal Election for the City of Madison on Aug. 26 will decide a new mayor and representatives for City Council in three contest...
Four winners certified in city council elections
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
MARIA RAKOCZY news@themadisonrecord.com 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Winners of four district elections in the city of Madison were certified at last week’s city council meeting. Four candidates ran unconteste...
“Take Back Alabama Town Hall” set for July 28 at Movement Church in Madison
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
in the
Staff Reports 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Community leaders from across North Alabama will gather on Monday, July 28 for the “Take Back Alabama Town Hall” hosted by Moms for Liberty ...
Amanda Browning wins second place in Fleet Reserve Association’s essay contest
Madison County Record, News, Sports, ...
Bob Labbe 
July 23, 2025
MADISON - Patriotism is the base of being an American and supporting the United States of America, especially for the veterans of the military who too...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *