Instead of pitching plastic lunch kits into garbage cans, Robinson Elementary School has collected them as part of the Lunch Kit Brigade program by TerraCycle and Lunchables Lunch Combinations. Since joining the program in January 2011, the Robinson Township school has collected a total of more than 9,800 lunch kits, earning them the third spot for top collectors in Michigan. Scott Brown, in public relations at TerraCycle, said the local elementary school is one of 60 organizations participating in the state. The national program has collected more than 2.46 million plastic units and raised more than $59,000 at 8,125 collection sites. Although Robinson Elementary School Principal Jeffrey Marcus said he noticed the school’s trash output has been “significantly reduced,” he didn’t pay attention to the total amount that had been recycled. Each year, the school has collected more than 1,200 units. Last year, students recycled more than 2,300 units. The school started participating in the Lunch Kit Brigade after a parent mentioned it. Marcus said the school’s Green Team, teaching staff and Parent Teacher Association oversees the program. The school’s participation in the Lunch Kit Brigade is among the school’s recycling efforts. During each lunch, three or four students devote part of their recess time to helping their peers sort through recyclable items. The school also recycles Styrofoam trays, empty milk cartons, juice bags, batteries, paper, plastic and metal.