Schools raise extra funds through their recycling efforts

Environment Minister Bob Mercer and Gordon Seabright, chairman of the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), announced today that more than $500,000 has been raised to date by schools participating in this year�s province-wide recycling contest. This amount includes the recycling refunds collected by schools directly which are then matched by the MMSB.

Recently, cheques totalling $126,326 were issued by the MMSB to the 300 schools participating in the contest. This represents MMSB�s matching portion - an additional five and 10 cents for each container - earned by the schools by recycling 2.5 million beverage containers during the period January to March 2003. Since the beginning of the contest in September 2002, schools have recycled more than five million beverage containers and raised $571,549 to support school projects and student activities.

"The school recycling contest raises awareness of recycling throughout the province and complements other MMSB initiatives," said Minister Mercer. "The response to this contest and matching program has been very positive, and I am pleased to see such strong participation from schools all across the province."

Since January 1999, MMSB has been running the annual school recycling contest for all K-12 schools in the province. The contest is designed to encourage recycling within the schools, while at the same time educate students, teachers, and parents about the benefits of recycling.

"Through the school recycling contest, schools have raised almost $2 million since 1999," said Mr. Seabright. "I am very pleased to see that the effort schools are putting into their recycling program is paying off for them. It takes a considerable amount of time and energy on the part teachers, staff, students, and parents to implement a successful school recycling program."

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 manage waste diversion programs in Newfoundland and Labrador. This school year, $425,000 has been made available for the matching program, and to date MMSB has paid $285,775 in matching refunds to schools participating in this year�s contest. The next disbursement of matching funds will be in June for beverage containers recycled in April and May.

Media contact:

          Karen O�Neill, MMSB, Communications, (709) 753-0949
          Carmel Turpin, Department of Environment, (709) 729-2575

Backgrounder
School Recycling Contest
Top 10 Recycling Schools
Money Raised By Schools
Including Matching Refunds by MMSB
(January 1 - March 31, 2003)

2003 05 06                                      1:25 p.m.