Durham - - Lakeridge Health is partnering with Derek and Luke Nguyen, the young masterminds behind Operation EcoPen, a growing community effort to collect and recycle end-of-life pens, pencils, highlighters and markers.
“Most people don’t realize that you can recycle pens, pencils and markers. Many of us just throw them away,” explains Derek. “But just imagine if we all started recycling them. That’s one more thing we’re keeping from landfills and one more way we’re saving our planet,” adds Luke.
Derek, 12 and Luke, 10 developed the idea for Operation EcoPen after they discovered their mother Dr. Rachel Chong recycling her own pens. They decided to take it to the next level and encourage their friends, family and people in our community to do the same.
“We fell in love with this project from the moment we met Derek and Luke,” said Lakeridge Health’s Senior Director of Communications Lloyd Rang. “As a green hospital, we share their vision of a healthier, more sustainable future. We’re proud to have Operation EcoPen boxes at each of our hospitals as one more way we’re helping to protect our environment.”
Each Operation EcoPen box is handmade by Derek and Luke, including the Operation EcoPen logo which consists of a pen angel and was designed by Luke. Boxes are also available at Pringle Creek Public School in Whitby where Derek and Luke attend school, at the Oshawa Clinic, where Dr. Chong has a practice, and at the Taunton Health Centre and the Courtice Health Centre.
Once collected, the pens, pencils and markers are taken to a recycling facility where they are separated by material composition. The separated items are then cleaned, shredded and made into new recycled products.
“We can all learn something from Derek and Luke,” says Dr. Chong. “Making even the smallest changes to the way we live our lives can make all the difference to the environment.”
For more information contact:
Lakeridge Health Communications
T. 905.576.8711 ext. 4317
communications@lakeridgehealth.on.ca
