close

Bethel Park student encourages converting trashcans to rain barrels

By Harry Funk staff Writer hfunk@thealmanac.Net 3 min read
article image -

Mother’s Day is approaching, and of course, that also applies to grandmothers.

Haley Bell has a good idea of what hers might enjoy for the occasion.

“My grandma has wanted a rain barrel for a really long time,” the Bethel Park High School freshman said, “but she didn’t want to buy one. Making one and recycling is a better option.”

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Harry Funk/The Almanac

Haley Bell is promoting the conversion of trashcans to rain barrels.

That’s the message Haley wants to spread through the community at large as Bethel Park residents make the transition to putting trashcans provided by the municipality at the curb.

For about $20 and maybe an hour’s worth of time, the old ones can become rain-catching containers that pay for themselves as an alternative to running the faucet when something in the yard requires watering.

Haley has assembled two so far, with high school technology education teacher Brad Kszastowski assisting with the initial effort.

By invitation from owner Andy Amrhein, Haley has a display set up at Evey True Value Hardware on Route 88 providing information about rain barrels, complete with instructional fliers for residents to take home to give the project a try. She also has produced a video that will air on Bethel Park’s public access BPTV.

Haley presented her overall project during the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America March 20-22 at Seven Springs Resort. She competed against seventh- through ninth-graders throughout Pennsylvania in the Environmental Ambassador category of the 74-year-old organization’s Students Taking Action with Recognition events.

Jill Simpson, longtime FCCLA sponsor at Bethel Park High School, is suitably impressed with Haley’s efforts.

“This is a bigger project than I had anticipated. To me, it’s a senior project,” she said about competition among 10th- through 12th-graders, “and not a junior project.”

Winners of state events advance to the National Leadership Conference, scheduled for the summer in Anaheim, Calif.

Making a barrel to capture rainwater basically requires cutting a large hole in a trashcan’s lid in which to place a downspout, plus smaller ones for ventilation. A hole toward the top of the side prevents overflow.

A spigot attached near the bottom allows for a hose to be attached, and for money to be saved.

“I’ve seen YouTube videos,” Haley said about her impetus for her rain barrel project, “and there is a lot on Pinterest of people saying how successful their rain barrels are. And they just made it from an old garbage can.”

Following their lead can be something in which whole families can participate, she said.

“It doesn’t take a long time to do. It’s not expensive. And it helps for the future.”

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today