KRTV

Posted: Feb 11, 2010 6:45 PM
Updated: Feb 12, 2010 1:34 PM

The MSU Extension office is honoring several Montana organizations for "going green" with the annual Ecostar Awards, which celebrate small businesses and organizations which work to reduce their carbon impact on the environment.

This year, the Helena High School Green Group is receiving an award for recycling.  Every week the Green Group, along with the special needs department, collect the recycling from around the school.

Last year they recycled over 8,000 pounds of paper and 900 pounds of cardboard.

Meta Downhour, Green Group president, noted, "Everything we have comes from the environment, like clothing, food, anything you can name, (it) all started in the environment, so it's one of the most important things for us to protect because it is our greatest resource and it's something we are going to need to have around for a long time."

The group was started three years ago and also has created water bottle refilling stations across the school.

The Green Group also educates elementary school students on green living.

Click here to learn more about the Ecostar program.