IRONTON — Ironton High School kicked off its new recycling program with an assembly Friday afternoon.

The school is partnering with Rumpke Waste and Recycling Services and the Lawrence-Scioto Solid Waste Management District for the program, which will begin Monday.

Stephanie Helms, an education specialist with the solid waste management district, has been working with the school for the past two years to get the program established.

“I think it’s great that they’re jumping into the program this year so they can take it to the new school,” she said, referring the new Ironton High School that is currently under construction.

The school’s science department and teachers Kimberly Kelly and Kurt Geveke have been organizing the program on the school’s end.

The solid waste management district has also donated 44 recycling containers that will go in every classroom as well as the cafeteria and gymnasium.

Besides the high school, at least three other districts in the county are in the process of developing a similar recycling program. St. Joseph High School and St. Lawrence Elementary School already have the program.

The program will cost $65 per month. School board member Jay Zornes has volunteered to sponsor the program until the end of this school year. After that, the school’s clubs and teachers will pay for it.

Jonathan Kissell, senior communications coordinator for Rumpke, spoke to the students about the ins and outs of the recycling program.

He encouraged the students to be involved in the effort to recycle.

“The success of this program lies on your shoulders,” he told students.

Along with the students’ help, the program will be successful because of the effort of everyone involved, he said.

“We’re very thankful for the partnership we have with Ironton High School, the solid waste management district and the board of education,” he said after the assembly. “Everyone working together can make this program successful.”

The school’s Key Club is organizing a competition for next week to help kick off the program.

Junior Adam Stumbo came up with the idea to have the different lunch sections compete to see how much recyclable material can be collected during a lunch period.

“I just started noticing how much plastic and metal we throwaway,” he said. “Once you look at how much is wasted, (recycling) just makes sense.”

For more information, visit www.rumpke.com or www.lsswmd.org.