Schools Win Recycling Award

Ten Georgia schools turned trash into treasure when they collected $1,000 each as winners of the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation’s 2007 “Excellence in Recycling” awards. The schools will use the money to either begin or expand recycling programs.

The foundation awarded a total of $10,000 to the schools for collecting recyclable products and promoting environmental education and events. Weyerhaeuser presented the awards at a Feb. 19, 2008, luncheon in Atlanta where students toured the Robert C. Williams Paper Museum.

The program, which is in its tenth year, is administered by the Georgia Recycling Coalition. Executive Director Gloria Hardegree said student leadership and instructional emphasis are priorities for selection. Students are expected to take part in program planning and collection of items that vary from milk cartons and drink boxes to newspaper, yard trimmings, food waste and steel cans.

“Students at some of these schools have helped arrange assemblies, plan an Earth Day event, publish a newsletter or sponsor a poster/essay contest,” she said.

“This year’s contest brings the total amount of grants since 1998 to $110,000,” said Monte Simpson, Weyerhaeuser public affairs manager.

The 2007 recycling award winners are:

Division A – Recognizing an Outstanding Program: Amana Academy, Alpharetta; Arcado Elementary, Lilburn; Centennial High School, Roswell; The Paideia School, Atlanta; Sylvester Elementary, Sylvester.

Division B - Expanding Existing Programs: Campbell High School, Smyrna; Woody Gap School, Suches.

Division C – Beginning a Program: Chestatee High School, Gainesville; David C. Barrow Elementary, Athens; Willis Sutton Middle School, Atlanta.

The mission of the Weyerhaeuser Company Foundation is to improve the quality of life in communities where Weyerhaeuser has a presence. Since 1948, the Foundation has directed more than $183 million to the communities where Weyerhaeuser employees work, live and play. Nationwide, the Foundation’s annual philanthropic budget totals $10 million.