He knew the phone number by heart. “720-7111,” he recited. “I had to call that number so many times.” That phone number is printed on all recycling bins, and was sophomore JC Crawford’s key to success.

The phone number belongs to Charleston County Recycling, and as a result of Crawford’s devotion and persistency, they are donating eight large recycling bins to Wando, and agreeing to pick up the recycling twice a week.

Crawford started the Wando plastic bottle and aluminum can recycling project, an attempt that has failed in the past. “I was surprised we didn’t have it in the first place. I figured if no one else was going to take the initiative to do it, then I had to.”

The first thing that Crawford had to do was get his idea approved, which took extreme planning. Administrator Kevin Shillingford helped with that. “I had to make sure JC planned everything out, and that he was working with the Mt. Pleasant Community.”

Science teacher Craig Bachman also took part in the project. “JC was very proactive. I basically agreed to support his efforts, and he came to me with questions and suggestions. I either approved or disapproved them.”

“I talked to all the teachers that were involved with [recycling] at the old school, and found out the problems that they had,” Crawford said.

In the past, no one emptied the cans all the way, which attracted roaches and other insects into the building. “We solved that problem by implementing the vast majority of the program outside the school,” Crawford said. Six of the eight recycling cans will be placed outside.

Two cans will be placed upstairs, one in science teacher Margaret Burwell’s classroom. Even before Crawford started this project, Burwell has been recycling paper in her classroom. “I think it’s a great follow up to our paper recycling. It’s a very big job that JC has undertaken, and he has done a great job,” Burwell said.

Two days a week, student volunteers will empty the cans. They will sort the cans and bottles, remove the random trash, and make sure the bins are thoroughly cleaned out.

“The biggest anticipated problem is that people will mix trash with recyclable items,” Bachman said. Students have to make sure they are putting the right items into the cans, and they have to take off the caps of bottles first.

Everyone involved with the project has high expectations for the success. “I hope that this endeavor will be successful,” Shillingford said. “With JC’s enthusiasm and motivation, I have faith that it will.”