Get ready to reduce, reuse, recycle, and celebrate like it’s Earth Day. Rosewood ECycle is hosting an early Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 17 at its electronics recycling center, located at 2200 Main Street in Great Bend. Rosewood’s inaugural event, which is free to the public, happens a few days before the official 51st anniversary of Earth Day.   

The Rosewood Earth Day Celebration is geared toward children but all family members are welcome to participate. The first 350 children who attend will receive a sports pack of items, including a coloring page and colors, along with a coupon from Great Bend Dairy Queen for a free kid’s cone. The come-and-go event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

“Besides having a great time at our event, we hope people leave Earth Day Celebration with the intention that instead of putting their throw-away electronics in the trash, they will bring them to us,” explained Rosewood ECycle Manager Duane Dipman. “By doing so collectively, not only do they drastically reduce what we are putting in area landfills, but they are helping us in building problem-solving opportunities for people with developmental disabilities.” 

Dipman said the Rosewood team recycles about 3,000 pounds of goods a month. The operation has expanded over the last few years, working with local government entities and schools, and even traveling as far as Pratt Community College to pick up electronics for recycling. Part of that growth, too, has been the increase in knowledge and production by the workers in learning the task of e-cycling the varied electronics they receive.

“We’re here to teach and guide them when they have an issue taking apart the items,” Dipman said. “Their goal is to figure the work out on their own, as much as possible. Every day we focus on that, and we are seeing their problem-solving abilities increase dramatically using that model. What we see over time, they rely on us less and less.”

Some of Rosewood ECycle workers will be on site during Earth Day Celebration demonstrating how they safely take apart electronics such as wires and cords, computers, flat screen monitors and televisions, and printers. There will be e-cycle learning exhibits and fun Earth Day activities for participants. The tour will end with children having the opportunity to plant their own tomato seedling, which they can take with them to grow at home. 

Dipman added that even if people cannot attend Earth Day Celebration, they can participate in making Great Bend green by donating their e-cycle items anytime. There is a Rosewood ECycle bin for 24-hour drop-offs on the northwest corner of the building. People wanting help with their items can simply ring the bell between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and the Rosewood ECycle team will unload the items for them.