A Community Partner
Wheelabrator Falls is committed to community life in Bucks County. That starts with operating our facility to the highest environmental, health and safety standards, but it extends far beyond our walls to direct contributions to civic, charitable, educational and environmental programs.
Wheelabrator Falls employees participate in a wide range of community groups, including the Central Bucks Chamber, Lower Bucks County Chamber of Commerce, Bucks County Council, the Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, YMCA Bucks County, and the Special Olympics of Bucks County. The company also supports local governments, fire and police departments in fundraising and community development projects.
We put a special emphasis on environmental education. Wheelabrator Falls works with local schools to educate youth on proper waste disposal, recycling and associated environmental issues. We have supported school events at the F.D.R and Bristol Middle Schools with volunteer time and financial contributions.
The centerpiece of our education program is the annual Symposium for Environment and Education. Launched 15 years ago, the symposium fosters environmental and social awareness in students to help build the country’s long-range environmental consciousness. It is a six-month learning project that requires middle school students to identify an environmental challenge in their community and develop a long-term solution – everything from radon gas awareness to beekeeping to graffiti removal. Teams from all over the country bring their ideas to a multi-day national event in Florida that includes an awards
ceremony, dinner, and activities such as exploring the Everglades and touring the Miami Seaquarium.
Wheelabrator Falls staff sponsors a team from the F.D.R Middle School. The team's 2009 project researched why students spend more time inside and not enough outside experiencing nature. Their plan described what citizens, students and policy makers needed to do to reverse the trend and get more kids outside. The F.D.R students contributed by refurbishing a nature trail at a local park, and encouraging their classmates and families to try it and learn about the outdoors.
