Students from 16 area elementary schools learned about the environment in a fun-filled day at Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park
The National Waste & Recycling Association trade group estimates that 25% of American recyclables are contaminated with food waste and non-recyclable materials but students from 16 local elementary schools are determined to change that. They are among the more than 1,200 students and their families who took the pledge to recycle right at the 10th Annual Earth Day Event celebration hosted by Waste Management at Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park.
For the past decade, the event has offered students hands-on recycling, renewable energy and environmental-related activities. The celebrations also serve as a fundraiser for the area schools with Waste Management having donated $170,000 through the years.
“We are deeply committed to the communities we serve and are proud to have built this partnership with our local schools over the past 10 years,” said Dawn McCormick, Community Affairs Director for Waste Management. “The event is aimed at third through fifth graders and, perhaps, some students from our first year are now studying environmental science in college. This day for students and their families shows we all have an important role to play in being good stewards of our earth’s resources.”
One of the most popular activities at the anniversary celebration was a wind machine in which students hilariously tried to catch swirling “hurricane debris.” The most recent storm, Hurricane Irma, added 660,000 tons of debris into the landfill in just four months. Experts explained other inner workings of the Renewable Energy Park such as how landfill gas becomes electricity and “clean” renewable energy.
The day’s activities included stations where students target what can’t be recycled in a bow and suction cup arrow game; don WM vests and hardhats beside the CNG truck which reduces greenhouse gas emissions, make a landfill out of candy before taking a bus tour of the real landfill and use recycled materials to make art with Young at Art and musical instruments with the South Florida Junior Chamber Ensemble.
Proving that being good to the environment is a winning strategy, Miami Dolphins’ former wide receiver O.J. McDuffie and former cornerback Patrick Surtain were on hand to sign autographs and take photos, many of which were shared on social media at #greenbroward, a local initiative in Broward County by Waste Management designed to engage and educate the community on sustainability efforts.
As part of the Earth Day festivities, Waste Management awarded funds to all participating schools. Palmview Elementary School in Pompano Beach won the first place price of $3,000 based on attendance; Park Lakes Elementary School in Lauderdale Lakes won $2,500 in second place and Atlantic West Elementary in Margate took home the third place prize of $2,000. All other participating elementary schools received $1,500 for their respective schools including: Coconut Creek, Tradewinds and Winston Park in Coconut Creek; Quiet Waters in Deerfield Beach; Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale; Piney Grove Boys Academy in Lauderdale Lakes; Margate in Margate; Heron Heights, Park Trails and Riverglades in Parkland; and Norcrest, Sanders Park and Somerset Academy in Pompano Beach.
The Dumpster Art Contest featured the handiwork of 14 schools that all took home gift cards to Michaels for future art projects while first, second and third prizes were awarded to Atlantic West Elementary, Calvary Christian Academy and Coconut Creek Elementary, respectively.
Monarch Hill Renewable Energy Park is bordered by Wiles Road, Powerline Road, Sample Road and Florida’s Turnpike.
ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT
Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is the largest residential recycler and also a leading developer, operator and owner of landfill gas-to-energy facilities in the United States. The company’s customers include residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.
