Local Youths, including BHS and RCB Students, Help Waste Management with Gardens, Nesting Boxes
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on April 30, 2021
SUBMITTED TO CONNECT-BRIDGEPORT
This spring, Waste Management (WM) landfills in Bridgeport and Clarksburg worked with local students to install pollinator gardens and blue 
bird boxes at both locations.
bird boxes at both locations.
Meadowfill Landfill in Bridgeport and S&S Landfill in Clarksburg are Conservation Certification sites, recognized through the Wildlife Habitat Council (WHC). This local effort is part of WM’s commitment to enhance and protect nearly 20,000 acres of wildlife across North America in partnership with the WHC. Through Conservation Certification, WHC recognizes wildlife habitat management and community environmental education programs in our nature.
Combined, students from Bridgeport High School and Robert C. Byrd High School installed 432 square feet of organic pollinator gardens 
using plants native to West Virginia. And with the help of local boy scout and girl scout troops, they built 45 blue bird boxes to be deployed at multiple WM locations to support ongoing avian projects.
using plants native to West Virginia. And with the help of local boy scout and girl scout troops, they built 45 blue bird boxes to be deployed at multiple WM locations to support ongoing avian projects.
Youth across Harrison County were instrumental in helping this project come together. Emma Romano, senior at Bridgeport High School, helped spearhead the project.
“I am planning on being an environmental lawyer focusing on the intersectionality of social and racial justice”, said Emma. “I am so excited I along with my peers had an instrumental part in the building of these organic pollinator gardens. In addition, bringing together our local youth to build 45 birdhouses will make a positive impact at multiple sites across the state. Partnering with WM was a great opportunity for a diverse group of students to get involved. This project promotes environmental sustainability and is a positive way to educate students and equip them to pass their learning on to others.”
“We are so appreciative of the help from our local youth to support our efforts at our landfills in Bridgeport and Clarksburg,” said Bobby Richards, district manager at Meadowfill and S&S Landfills. “Receiving Conservation Certification is incredibly important to our team and to WM. It shows we are focused on being a good corporate citizen and strive to make a difference in the communities we call home. At WM, we are always working for a sustainable tomorrow and these projects demonstrate those efforts.”
The project received support from Bridgeport High School Student Council, Bridgeport High School Spanish Club, Robert C. Byrd High School Environmental Class, Boy Scouts of America Venturing Crew 14 and Girl Scout Troop #51424.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Bridgeport students at the Meadowfill Landfill, while students Mackenzie Courtney, Randy Keener, and Shyam Patel are shown below with bird boxes.
