Dawn Saves The Planet - Question

[sarafina66]

Maybe this is a stupid question and I totally missed something... When Dawn decides to give the money from the Green Fair to the recycling project... what exactly is it going to? I thought she said it didn't cost anything but time, and the supplies they could get free... so what do they actually need money for? Sorry if I'm just being totally dumb.

Comments

[feticeira]

I don´t remember much about the book, but frankly, I wouldn´t be surprised if you just happened to catch one more of those irregularities that plague practically every book.

[sarafina66]

Hmm. That makes sense. But I've just looked back at it and it just says "parent volunteers" will do that. Nothing really seem to suggest that they'll be paid for the costs of it.

I was talking to my boyfriend about the book (aka ranting) and joking that Mrs. Gonzalez was just going to use the money that on herself on tequila or something and he was like, wait a minute... I thought Dawn said that it wouldn't cost any money, so what do they need money for? He's the one who pointed it out.

[olivia_y]

Not having read the book, can someone explain how recycling can ever be (completely) free?

[just_laura]

It can't be. In this case, they were just talking about the actual collection aspect of recycling--apparently, they could get bins for the materials for free, and "parent volunteers" could take the recyclables to the larger center (without expecting to be repaid for gas, evidently). Processing was way beyond their means.

[just_laura]

I've read that book a million times and never caught that. You are sharp!!

Perhaps it's for bribing school officials to keep the project going. :-p

[sarafina66]

Like I said, it's my boyfriend who pointed it out and I couldn't think of any reason for the school recycling project actually needing the money. And he didn't even read the book! It's really funny because Dawn goes on this big speech about how there's so many great organizations out there but she's learned that helping the planet begins at home. It's stupid because it seems it would have been better spent at one of those great organizations. Also, isn't it possible that the school would actually get paid a little for taking things in to be recycled?

[just_laura]

it seems it would have been better spent at one of those great organizations

Yeah, or on her own little project where she taught some of the kids to be enthusiastic about the environment. . . if she'd fed the funds back into her own program, Stoneybrook could practically be Dancing Rabbit by now!! :-p

Also, isn't it possible that the school would actually get paid a little for taking things in to be recycled?

Definitely possible, especially during that time period--I think a government grant for a grassroots recycling collection facility would be quite likely. If nothing else, some of those enthusiastic parents who didn't have time to ferry recyclables around town (such as Stacey's workaholic dad) would want to donate money. Watson Brewer would probably give them a mint. :-p