IKALUKTUTIAK/CAMBRIDGE BAY - Cambridge Bay is on its way to having a recycling program thanks to a group of dedicated students.

Students of Kiilinik High School's environmental class have been working towards setting up the program for the past two months with the help of the Kitikmeot Heritage Society's summer student, Abbey Bucher, a student herself at Duke University in North Carolina.

Kiilinik High School student Cameron Crockatt, left, gives Abbey Bucher a high-five for recycling. - photo courtesy of Abbey Bucher

"It's something that really needs to be done here. We need to do it for our kid's futures," said one student, Pia Gunn, who is starting Grade 12 this coming school year.

One of the biggest accomplishments the group has made is signing Canadian North on to transport all the community's recyclables for free.

"That's what sealed the deal," said Bucher. "It took a lot to get to that point, obviously."

She said students did extensive research on the best way to set up recycling in the community, including talking to Kugluktuk, which already has a program; calling both Northern airlines to ask for pricing; and looking into using sea cans and barge shipping.

"These kids have put a lot of effort into this and they're really excited about seeing it succeed," said Bucher.

She said a big turning point in perception for some of the students was a trip to Cambridge Bay's dump. The hamlet burns much of its garbage.

"They saw firsthand all of the things people throw away. They don't just disappear. They really do come back to haunt you, whether it's in the water, the air or just things blown across the land," said Bucher.

Gunn said the work she's done on the project and the trip to the dump showed her how much of an impact recycling could have.

"I didn't really know anything about it (recycling). I didn't know how important it was," said Gunn. w"My son has asthma. Burning garbage like that can increase the risk of having asthma and emphysema and all these other health effects," she added.

"This (setting up recycling) is something I want to do for the community's health."

The students have accomplished much in the recent months, said Bucher, but there is still more to do.

The group will need a shed in which to store and sort recyclables - according to Bucher one community business is interested in donating one - a permit for the building, and volunteers to sort the recycling.

Currently, the group is trying to work out a volunteer schedule for students at the local grade school and high school.

There is also a possibility the group could pay sorters since Canadian North has agreed to drop recyclables off at Yellowknife's beverage refund program and give the cash collected back to the students.

Either way, Gunn will be sticking to the project and is sure her classmates will too.

"I'll still be doing it. I really want it to happen here. It's a really good thing," she said.

"I hope the kids learned how powerful their voices are through this, that they can inspire change," added Bucher.

Bucher and the students have also completed a documentary charting their efforts to get the recycling program going.