SCHOOL RECYCLING GETS A BOOST!
Every Classroom in All Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Staten Island Public Schools
Receives a Paper Recycling Bin thanks to Pratt Industries
New York, NY October 27 - Today Pratt Industries and GrowNYC announced a donation of 40,000 brand new paper recycling bins donated by Pratt Industries for all 700 NYC public school buildings in Brooklyn, Manhattan and Staten Island one for every classroom.
The bins are part of GrowNYCs Recycling Champions program, which to-date has helped 17 schools establish lasting, school-wide recycling programs. Made from 100% recycled paper, the durable, double-walled corrugated cardboard bins feature a slotted lid to limit contamination from non-paper materials. The bins also tell a story, being made from waste paper collected from schools in those three boroughs and recycled locally at the Pratt Industries mill in Staten Island.
"With 1,600 schools and 1.1 million students in New York City, there is a substantial opportunity to divert recyclables from the landfill and ensure that recycling becomes an everyday habit amongst our youngest residents. We are extremely grateful for Pratts donation and for the Department of Education and Sanitations efforts to increase school recycling in our city," said GrowNYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen.
The installation of bins comes on the heels of citywide recycling trainings for all custodian engineers and school sustainability coordinators, conducted by GrowNYC and DSNY at the invitation of the NYC DOE Sustainability Initiative. Taking a hands-on approach, GrowNYC works with all members of the school community to provide everything from classroom lessons, faculty workshops, PTA recycling presentations and student-led cafeteria "recycling roll-out" days with activities, games and prizes.
"Pratt Industries (USA) is proud to sponsor and support this recycling initiative in the NYC Public Schools with GrowNYC, DSNY and NYCDOE. We hope this initiative will foster recycling efforts and education in our school system," said Hank Levin, Recycling Manager at Pratt.
Sanitation Commissioner John J. Doherty said, "This innovative recycling program is a wonderful way to introduce to our students the importance of reducing the waste they roduce through recycling. The more exposure young people have to keeping their environment clean and green the more sustainable our city will become. I applaud Pratt and our other partners in creating this exceptional initiative."
"All our schools have Sustainability Coordinators who help to implement recycling programs," said John Shea, CEO of the Division of School Facilities. "The bins, which look great and are free of charge, will go a long way to supplement these programs. I want to thank Pratt Industries and GrowNYC for their support in these efforts."
Schools can go to http://www.grownyc.org/recyclingchampions to access to a complete recycling tool-kit, including information on organizing cafeteria and classroom recycling, downloadable signs and presentations, request a workshop, ask technical recycling questions and more.
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GrowNYC improves New York Citys quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities block by block and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. GrowNYC achieves its mission through the following projects and programs: Greenmarket; Open Space Greening; Environmental Education; and the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education . For more information, visit us at www.grownyc.org.
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