Congressman praises
school recycling efforts

Congressman Charles Rangel recently extended his support to the students of I.S. 52 Inwood School and the Muscota New School for taking part in the New York City Public Schools Recycling Champion's Education Series competition.

"I am proud to see that students from I.S. 52, Muscota and New York City have taken the initiative in cleaning up our communities," Rangel stated. "Their recycling efforts will go a long way to protecting the planet which is a vital and laudable cause."

I.S. 52 launched efforts to provide all 43 classrooms with a separate bin for mixed paper recycling and clear signage for all recycling bins across the school. I.S. 52 students also informed city residents about the quality of New York's tap water through the Department of Environment Protection's "Water On The Go" Program. At Muscota, students in grades 1-4 elected classroom recycling monitors who will educate their peers of what items are recyclable and where to discard them.

According to the environmental organization Urban Mining, 91 million pounds of recyclables were recovered last year, preventing the release of 270 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent or the annual emissions of burning 1.5 million car loads of coal. The Environmental Protection Agency has also reported that recycling and remanufacturing industries account for over one million jobs and more than $100 billion in revenue.

"Recycling and conservation programs beautify our communities and are also proven job producers," Rangel said. "Working to repair the environment throughout our great nation will not only improve our standard of living in America now, but will create a stronger and cleaner nation for future generations."

Participating schools of the The Recycling Champions Program must establish a recycling infrastructure of bins and signs, educate the school community on what can and cannot be recycled in New York, and what benefits recycling can hold for the environment, the city, and the future careers of students. The winning school will receive a six-session workshop from GrowNYC environmental experts; learn how to create their own recycling programs, and how to live eco-friendly. Students have until June 30, 2011 to enter the competition.

The Recycling Champions Program was launched by GrowNYC and digital media outlet DNAinfo.com as a collaborative effort in partnership with the New York City Department of Education Sustainability Initiative, the Division of School Facilities and the Department of Sanitation.

"I encourage all schools in our district to participate in the conservation efforts during and beyond the competition." Rangel said.