Students recognized in tobacco environmental impact contest
The Tuscarawas County Health Department partnered with Empower Tusc this spring to sponsor a tobacco environmental impact contest for local Youth-to-Youth student groups. The contest aimed to teach middle and high school students about environmental advocacy while encouraging creative expression around the harmful effects of tobacco and vaping products.
Participants received training before beginning their projects, learning about advocacy skills and the environmental impact of tobacco and electronic cigarette waste. Students from Claymont, Strasburg and Tuscarawas Central Catholic high schools, along with middle school students from Claymont and Tuscarawas Central Catholic, submitted poster projects for judging.
Youth-to-Youth groups from Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School and Tuscarawas Central Catholic Middle School earned first place honors. Tuscarawas Central Catholic High School also received the People’s Choice, voted on by community members at the Run for Home Fitness Festival at Tuscora Park.
The student-created posters are available for public viewing on the Tuscarawas County Health Department’s Facebook page and website at www.tchdnow.org/tobacco-use-prevention.html.
“Creating the posters was a great way for students to develop research and advocacy skills,” said Lana Schrock, public health educator with the health department. “According to the Truth Initiative, cigarette butts are the most frequently littered item on U.S. beaches and waterways. E-cigarette and cigarette waste can pollute water, air and land with toxic chemicals, heavy metals and residual nicotine.”
Until recently, there was no local disposal option for electronic cigarette devices. Due to outreach efforts by the health department in coordination with the Stark-Tuscarawas-Wayne Recycling District, the district now accepts electronic cigarette and vaping devices for disposal at the Canton Recycle Center. The devices are difficult to dispose of because they contain plastic, lithium batteries and liquid nicotine. This disposal service is available to district residents by appointment at www.timetorecycle.org/resources/schedule-an-appointment. Users should select Household Hazardous Waste when booking.
Individuals seeking support to quit nicotine or tobacco use can call the Ohio Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-784-8669 to speak with a free quit coach. Additional resources are available by calling or emailing Schrock at 330-343-5555 ext. 1860 or lschrock@tchdnow.org.