Orinda Academy Receives Award in Recognition of Environmental Efforts To Reduce Mercury Pollution

June 11, 2010 - PRLog -- Orinda, Calif.,—Orinda Academy (OA) announces that it has received an award from the Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) in recognition of its success in reducing mercury pollution. The school’s efforts were recognized at its annual awards ceremony on Thursday, June 10, 2010. Orinda Academy faculty members Bob Shayler and Ben Lavender accepted the award.

“We are pleased to be honored by the CCCSD,” says Ron Graydon, director of Orinda Academy. “The OA community of faculty and students is committed to doing its part to protect the environment.”

For the past several years the CCCSD has been collaborating with public and private schools in Central Contra Costa County to control the amount of mercury released into the environment. This is the first year that the program is recognizing private schools. Orinda Academy is one of three private schools in the area receiving the award.

Mercury is found in school science labs as well as thermostats, fluorescent bulbs and batteries. Several tons of mercury-containing items are inappropriately thrown away every year in the United States according to the CCCSD.

“Reducing the amount of mercury that gets into the water is a big area of concern for us, and we appreciate Orinda Academy’s commitment to controlling sources of mercury including minimizing its future purchases,” says Tim Potter, CCCSD’s environmental compliance superintendent.

The Central Contra Costa Sanitary District (CCCSD) is a special district responsible for the collection and treatment of wastewater in a 146 square mile area of central Contra Costa County. Its mission is to protect public health and the environment. More information about the agency and the correct disposal of mercury is available at http://www.centralsan.org.

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ABOUT ORINDA ACADEMY
OA prides itself on the overall success of its students. Students are from various parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and around the world. The learning environment at OA is conducive to student achievement by offering organization, time-management, and self-advocacy strategies. While developing self-esteem and self-reliance, students build upon their successes at OA and work to their potential. Orinda Academy also offers a diverse extracurricular program including arts, sports, travel and technology. Students who graduate from Orinda Academy are confident, as well as academically and personally prepared for college. Graduates attend top public and private universities across the country including University of California schools. Applications are currently being accepted for summer school classes for students entering grades 7 through 12 as well as the 2010-2011 school year. For more information, go to http://www.orindaacademy.org.