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

Recycling efforts pay off for schools

With the release of cheques today totaling $85,173 from the Multi-Materials Stewardship Board (MMSB), schools participating in this year�s Green School Routine recycling contest have earned $170,346 to support school projects. The money from MMSB is part of a program that matches dollar for dollar the recycling refunds collected by schools. During the months of September and October 2003, the 300 participating schools recycled 1.7 million beverage containers, thereby earning direct refunds of $85,173 as well as matching refunds from MMSB of the same amount.

"I am excited to see this year�s contest off to a strong start," said Gordon Seabright, chairman of MMSB. "The response to the Green School Routine recycling contest has been very positive and schools and communities have shown strong participation in this recycling program."

This is the sixth consecutive year MMSB has implemented this contest for all K-12 schools in the province. The program is designed to encourage recycling within the schools, while at the same time educate students, teachers, and parents about the benefits of recycling. To assist schools in delivering their recycling programs, each year MMSB supplies schools registered in the contest with recycling bins and bags, recycling videos, and education materials about recycling and waste reduction.

In addition to the matching refunds released this month, MMSB awarded two computers through random draws from among schools registered in the contest. The computers, valued at $1,500 each, were awarded to Memorial Academy, in Botwood, and Crescent Collegiate, in South Dildo. These are two of 10 computers MMSB will award this year to schools participating in the province-wide recycling contest.

"The positive message here is about the growth in recycling, and I want to commend the efforts of all those involved," said Mr. Seabright. "The school recycling contest raises awareness of recycling throughout the province and complements other MMSB initiatives."

To receive matching refunds, participating schools submit their recycling volumes to MMSB each month between September and June. Based on this information, MMSB pays matching refunds to schools in November, January, April, June, and August.

The matching refund program is funded through the Newfoundland and Labrador Waste Management Trust Fund which is administered by MMSB. This school year, $450,000 has been made available for the matching program. The next disbursement of matching funds will be in January for beverage containers recycled in November and December.

Media contact: Karen O�Neill, MMSB, Communications, (709) 753-0949

2003 11 21                                      9:45 a.m.