NLIS 5
June 15, 2001
(Environment)

The following is being distributed at the request of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board:

Schools raise funds through their recycling efforts

With cheques today totaling $79,830 from the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), schools participating in the school recycling contest have earned over $300,000 to support school projects. The money from MMSB is part of a program that matches dollar for dollar the recycling refunds collected by schools. Since October 2000, the 275 participating schools have recycled 4.2 million beverage containers, thereby earning direct refunds of $166,397 as well as matching refunds from MMSB of the same amount. 

The number of schools participating in the contest has also jumped to 275 from 130 in 1999/2000, according to Gordon Seabright, MMSB chairman. "The response to the matching program has been very positive," said Seabright. "Strong school participation means strong community participation in recycling. Through the school recycling contest, schools have been able to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars directly and, in addition, win computers and software for their schools."

"The positive message here is about the growth in recycling, and I want to commend the efforts of all those involved," said Environment Minister Ralph Wiseman. "The school recycling contest raises awareness of recycling throughout the province and complements other MMSB initiatives. The more recycling that takes place, the less pressure there is on landfills and the better our environment will be."

To receive matching refunds, participating schools submit their recycling volumes to MMSB each month between October and June. Based on this information, MMSB paid matching refunds to schools in January, March, and June. The final disbursement of matching refunds will be later this month for containers recycled in May and up to June 15. Based on current trends, MMSB anticipates a matching payout to schools of more than $50,000 at that time. 

The matching refund program is funded through the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund which is administered by MMSB, a Crown agency established by the Department of Environment to develop, implement and, where appropriate, manage a variety of waste diversion programs in Newfoundland and Labrador.


For more information contact: Karen O'Neill, MMSB, (709) 753-0949.

TOP TEN RECYCLING SCHOOLS
TOTAL MONEY RAISED BY SCHOOLS 
(Including matching refunds by MMSB) 
SCHOOL RECYCLING CONTEST 2000 -2001