The Lorain County Solid Waste Management District unveiled its new Sustainability Learning Center located at 538 South Abbe Road in Elyria, which will host tours for local students that teach why it is important to recycle, reuse or compost waste and other sustainability topics. 鈥�(The Center) represents the next stage in teaching the community the proper ways to reduce, reuse and recycle in the community,鈥� Waste District Director David Blevins said. 鈥�…It is my hope that this center will prove to be an excellent way to reinforce lessons taught to children and adults alike on how to prolong the life of our landfills, all the while sustaining vital natural resources.鈥�
A number of local, county and state officials were present for a ribbon cutting ceremony at the new facility. Blevins said work on the center began when he became head of the district in 2021, picking up an idea that Community Outreach Coordinator Brandi Schnell had been kicking around for several years. 鈥淣obody really ever took that idea very seriously, so I thought well, that鈥檚 that,鈥� Schnell said. 鈥淎nd then Dave (Blevins) came in and he was like, let鈥檚 do it. I was like 鈥楢re you serious? Oh my God.鈥� And now we鈥檙e here, it鈥檚 happening.鈥�
The center features a number of games, stations and visuals to impart to kids how important being conscious of their daily waste can be. State Rep. Joe Miller, D-Amherst, was present at the ribbon cutting and said as a former teacher the center 鈥渢ugged on the heartstrings.鈥�