Following up: Students tour factory to see what's come of their recycling project

THUNDER BAY - Students in Pope John Paul the Second's environmental club were able to see where all of their hard work collecting polystyrene went when they were invited to tour local company Eco Carbon Foam's factory, where the company recycles polystyrene into environmentally friendly insulation.

"It's amazing to see them here today, asking great questions, following up their efforts of not only recycling themselves but sending a message out to the bigger community that it is very easy to participate in this sort of thing and it makes such a difference in the environment," said Derek Brassard, sales manager.

"Really proud of their leadership skills and their action to follow through with all this, it was great."

The students collected polystyrene at their school to be given to Eco Carbon Foam, keeping an impressive amount from ending up in the landfill and building stronger friendships along the way. 

"We've been bonding really closely, especially with spit-balling ideas and just bonding over that, and having a shared interest has just made us grow closer." Madelyn Brassard, Emily Kivi, Pope John Paul II student.

"And that relationship has made us a stronger team and better with our ideas and better friendships that will go into the future."

The students were more than excited to be taken around the factory and shown step by step how the polystyrene they collected is broken down and turned into the raw material that the company then turns into insulation. 

The students clearly had a passion for the environment and were happy to see that their efforts helped to make a difference.

"It's been absolutely amazing just to see how much we collected and all the work we put in just to see how much it can help others and the steps to making it something amazing. It's been an incredible experience," said Emily Kivi, Pope John Paul II student.

"I hope a lot of others can find out how it's all put together because I think this should be shared. This is amazing."

Eco Carbon Foam was recently certified, allowing them to sell their insulation across Ontario and out of province. 

The Styrofoam the students collected has already been processed into insulation, which Eco Carbon Foam will sell in what they hope will be a busy construction season.