HAPEVILLE-Students at St. John the Evangelist School are obtaining free computer technology for their school and learning a lesson about recycling that reaches into the Atlanta community.

The school is participating in a national program called the Educational Technology and Conservation Exchange Program, in which thousands of schools from across the country collect empty laser and inkjet printer cartridges from both homes and businesses in the community. Collected cartridges earn points that are then exchanged for thousands of different classroom technology products.

Janet Youmans, media specialist for the school, called the program a "win-win-win program," citing that it is "pro-education, pro-environment and pro-taxpayers."

"Our first year goal is to collect 4,000 empty cartridges from our community. This would generate enough points to place six complete computer systems in our classrooms," she said. "With over 243 million of these cartridges thrown away each year, this is a realistic goal-but we need the support of the community."

Local companies can demonstrate their commitment to both education and the environment by participating in the ETCEP Adopt-A-School Program. By adopting St. John the Evangelist School, local businesses pledge their empty laser and inkjet cartridges to the school. The points generated by the return of these cartridges are credited directly to the school. Cartridge drop-off sites have been set up at the school, located at 240 Arnold Street.

For more information about the Adopt-A-School Program at St. John the Evangelist, contact Youmans at (404) 767-4312.

For more information about participating in the ETCEP program, call 1-888-883-8237 or visit the website at www. ETCEP.com.