Earth Day is here and what better way to spend it than by learning ways to take care of the world around you?

On Monday, fourth graders at Fleeta School learned how they could take better care of the Earth, so it could continue to take care of them.

Patricia Gable, of Covington County Soil and Water, on Monday discussed various ways the students could help improve the environment, including recycling.

Plastic by the numbers

Students told Gable they could help cleanup and recycle bottles to help keep their environment alive.

Students had the opportunity to take a look at a journey of a plastic bottle from beginning to end, where they learned that recycling is a vital part of improving the environment.

They learned an array of facts including that Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour, and most of them are thrown away, and that recycling plastic saves twice as much energy as burning it in an incinerator.

Gable also discussed facts about solid waste and landfills, too.

About one-third of an average dump is made up of packing materials.

Additionally, each American throws out about 1,200 pounds of organic garbage that could be composted each year.

The United States is the No. 1 trash-producing country in the world.

Gable also talked about the importance of wisely using resources.

“For example, if we use trees, we need to replant trees,” she said. “We need to be good stewards of the land.”

Gable said the Covington County office wants to “promote the wise use of those resources, realizing that we do have to be good stewards, but people with common sense.”

Those interested in recycling in Andalusia can take part in the city’s free recycling program.

Those who choose to participate can recycle items such as newspaper, magazines, cardboard, postal mailings, aluminum cans, steel cans, plastic bottles and jugs.

Items that are not accepted include: glass, plastic shopping bags, Styrofoam, paper towels, napkins, diapers and needles.

For city of Andalusia garbage customers, they should place their recycling bags for pick-up by 7:30 a.m. on garbage pick-up day.

County residents may participate by bringing recyclable items to the facility off of Sutton Road in the City’s Industrial Park.

The facility is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. until 2:15 p.m.