BARRE, Vt. (WCAX) – Central Vermont Career Center cosmetology students want to help make Vermont beauty salons more eco-friendly. The students have become the first in Vermont to work with a beauty waste recycling company.
The students hope to teach others how important it is to use safe products in their hair.
“My favorite part is just getting like knowing that I am making a difference in my community,” said Emma Lamery, 17.
Now in a safe, healthy and eco-friendly way with GLO Recycling. GLO is a company that partners with salons all over the country to help reduce salon pollution and waste. It’s something Maria Hampton of Stowe’s Spruce Peak Spa has at the top of her mind, as does Kyra Marineau of Studio K Styles.
“Using products that are clean and green is something that we’ve seen grow over the last decade or so, but now we’re taking it one extra step and the disposal of those things is now becoming equally as in the spotlight,” Hampton said.
“I feel like it’s not huge in our area right now, especially in our industry. So, I think it’s good to bring it to the area and teach people about it and get people knowing what it’s all about,” Marineau said.
GLO sends out boxes to partnering salons to collect different types of waste including hair, chemicals and plastic.
Students like Ida Astick, 16, are eager to partner with local salons to do the work.
“I think it’s amazing that we can recycle and reuse all of these products because what… the thousands of pounds of waste just from going in with hands every single day and the fact that we can make an impression on that is huge to me,” Astick said.
Cosmetology instructor Christina Currier says she feels grateful to watch her students learn and grow to become better students and future hair stylists.
“The great part is now we’ve got this beautiful package that the students can share and educate others about and bring it to the industry and bring it to other places in Vermont,” Currier said.
When GLO receives the filled boxes, they safely dispose of the harmful chemicals and then sort through the plastic for repurposing, like transforming old hair to create hair mats.