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WELLINGTON –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has
recognized Wellington Landings Community Middle School students for their
commitment to protecting and preserving Florida’s natural resources by winning
the statewide K-12 Recycling Pledge Card Contest. Across Florida, more than
25,000 participants pledged to adopt conscientious living habits such as
reusing, recycling, buying recycled products and encouraging others to develop
these important habits in 2010. DEP, Recycle Florida Today, Creative Recycling
Systems, Inc. and Publix Super Markets hosted the contest to recognize Florida
schools for outstanding environmental commitment.
“Recycling is perhaps the most important and easiest way for citizens, both
young and old alike, to conserve Florida’s natural resources and reduce waste,”
said DEP Southeast District Director Jack Long. “I am pleased to see students
from Wellington Landings Community Middle School leading the way to a cleaner,
safer and healthier environment by pledging to reduce, reuse and recycle.”
DEP officials visited Wellington Landings Community Middle School yesterday
to award teacher Ms. Pamela Park with a refurbished computer, courtesy of
Creative Recycling Systems, Inc., for the class’s pledge of environmental
stewardship. With more than 1,060 recycling pledges submitted from classmates,
friends and family in 2009, Wellington Landings Community Middle School
submitted the third highest number of pledges statewide.
“Wellington Landings Community Middle School is thrilled to have been able to
participate in the America Recycles Day Contest. We take our recycling programs
seriously, recycling paper, plastic, ink cartridges, batteries and shoes,” said
Wellington Landings Community Middle School teacher Pamela Park. “Our thanks go
to Recycle Florida Today, Creative Recycling Systems, Inc. and Publix Super
Markets as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for
hosting this fun and educational event.”
Wellington Landings Community Middle School was one of three Florida schools
that submitted the greatest number of pledge cards, each receiving a refurbished
computer. All pledges were entered into a statewide America Recycles Day drawing
and eligible for one of three $50 gift certificates donated by Publix and a $100
gift card courtesy of Recycle Florida Today. Florida celebrates America Recycles
Day each November to encourage residents to make the world a better place by
reducing waste. In 2007, more than 9.2 million tons of municipal solid waste was
recycled in Florida, including 583,000 tons of newspaper, 125,000 tons of glass,
35,000 tons of aluminum cans and 56,000 tons of plastic bottles.
To increase recycling throughout Florida, Governor Charlie Crist signed the
Energy, Climate Change, and Economic Security Act of 2008 into law which
established a new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent to be achieved by 2020.
Within the law DEP was directed to develop a program to achieve this goal and
submit it to the Florida Legislature for consideration by January 1, 2010. To
view the report, please visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/recyclinggoal75. For more information about
recycling, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling.
Contact your local county recycling coordinator to learn where to recycle in
your community, by visiting
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories. |
2012 State of Florida