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PALM SPRINGS –The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP)
recognized Palm Springs Middle School students today 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.
“The America Recycles Day Contest makes committing to recycling fun and easy
for young people, such as students from Palm Springs Middle School,” said DEP
Southeast District Director Jack Long. “I congratulate them on leading the way
to a cleaner, safer and healthier environment by pledging to reduce, reuse and
recycle.”
DEP officials visited Palm Springs Middle School today to award teacher Ms.
Melissa Walsh with a refurbished computer, courtesy of Creative Recycling
Systems, Inc., for the class’s pledge of environmental stewardship. With more
1,238 recycling pledges submitted from classmates, friends and family in 2009,
Palm Springs Middle School submitted the second highest number of pledges
statewide.
“Palm Springs Middle School is excited to have been able to participate in
the America Recycles Day Contest, and we’re even more excited to have placed
second in the contest. It’s important for students to realize the importance of
recycling and being environmentally conscious,” said Melissa Walsh, teacher at
Palm Springs Middle School. “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.”
Palm Springs 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. For more information
about recycling, visit
www.dep.state.fl.us/waste/categories/recycling.
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, 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.
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2012 State of Florida