At first glance, the contraption sitting in a corner of the Olympus Junior High commons area looks like a randomly assembled heap of junk.

Junk? Maybe. Randomly assembled? Not hardly.

This skillfully crafted machine is designed to help students recycle aluminum cans in an unprecedented method. The device – named “Serk-E” – allows students to crush their cans with their own pedal power.

“We decided to create something fun that prompted kids to recycle,” said Olympus science teacher JoAnne Brown. “We are hoping Serk-E will make a difference in our school.”

Serk-E was developed by The Crushers, a student group under the direction of Brown who are competing in the national Lexus Eco Challenge – a contest that encourages middle and high school students to create and implement environmental programs in their communities. Since 2007, Brown’s students have won more than $295,000 in the Challenge.

The machine was created out of an old bicycle that was collecting dust in the garage of a student. With the help of student ingenuity and parental craftsmanship, Serk-E was developed into an effective tool to increase recycling efforts.