Fridge recycling demonstration impresses Sheridan students

At Sheridan Elementary School last week, Herman Marioth, a manager of Jaco Environmental in Portland, took a large chisel and popped off the side of an old refrigerator.

A collective “whoa” went up from the third- and fourth-graders.

It was part of Avista’s Filet-O-Fridge event at the school. Representatives from Avista and Jaco explained to students the importance of recycling large appliances and what the pieces of old refrigerators can be used for.

Bob Nicholas from Jaco explained how the steel and metal can be made into nails and rebar. The plastic can be used for new cellphones and computers. The glass is used in road construction and new countertops.

One recycled refrigerator returns 188 pounds of materials.

The school brought out a refrigerator that had been in the teachers lounge for about 30 years. Students could sign it with markers before it was taken away for recycling. In return, the school received a new, energy-efficient replacement from Fred’s Appliance.

Most students asked said they liked watching the fridge get torn apart.

“It’s good to recycle things and not just throw them away,” said Alexandra Haux, a fourth-grader.