The annual telephone book recycling contest was successful according to Terry A. Bennett, Allegany County Government Recycling Coordinator.  This contest is held by the Allegany County Commissioners and the Allegany County Board of Education. Students from 14 public and private schools in Allegany County participated and collected out-of-date telephone books for recycling.

 

This contest is educational and enhances awareness of both students and community members about the importance of recycling. This contest definitely helps the environment because valuable landfill space is not utilized for these telephone books. In addition, the material is recycled and reused to manufacture desirable products. All recycled telephone books help Allegany County reach its’15% recycling goal, a mandate from the State of Maryland.

 

 

The contest is based on a ratio of the total number of telephone books collected to the total number of students enrolled in the entire school/in the specific class. There are four prizes: one for the school collecting the highest number of telephone books per student and three for the classes collecting the highest number of telephone books per student. The three class prizes are won by classes from three different schools; the top school is also eligible to win one of the class prizes.

 

The top school is awarded a $200 cash prize. Coca-Cola Bottling Works, Cumberland, donated the $200 cash award. The top school is also given the proceeds from the sale of all of the recycled telephone books. In addition, Coca-Cola also gave school supplies to each student in the top school. Ms. Bennett recognized the significant contributions of Coca-Cola: “Coca-Cola was a generous and genuine sponsor. Students and the community at large mutually benefit from this annual recycling project. Allegany County Recycling greatly appreciates Coca-Cola’s sponsorship.”

 

The Allegany County Commissioners recognized the top school and the first place class at the public meeting on June 5, 2008. Saint Michael’s School, Frostburg, was the top school (1,248 books, 85 students, or 14.70 books per student). Ms. Black’s kindergarten class at Saint Michael’s School was the first place class (205 books, 5 students, 41.0 books per student). Ms. Tara Nolan represented Coca-Cola Bottling Works at the County Commissioners meeting and personally congratulated each student in the first place class. Ms. Alisa Kyle, District Manager of Waste Management, Inc.’s Mountainview Landfill, hosted a pizza party for the first place class. Students in the first place class include Cara Bako, Evard DeMott, Kami Miller, Miriam Rizri, and Emily Shanklin.

 

Allegany County Government’s Recycling Office treated the second and third place classes to an ice cream party. Second Place Class: Frost Elementary School – Mr. Whitehead’s First Grade Class (648 books, 16 students, 40.5 books per student).  Third Place Class: Cresaptown Elementary School – Ms. Irons’ Third Grade Class (435 books, 18 students, 24.2 books per student).

 

Allegany County Government congratulates these schools and compliments every school participating in the contest.  They are: Allegany High, Cash Valley Elementary, Center for Career and Technical Education, Cresaptown Elementary, Flintstone Elementary, Frost Elementary, John Humbird Elementary, Mountain Ridge High, Mt. Savage, Northeast Elementary, Parkside Elementary, South Penn Elementary, St. Michael’s Religious Education Center, and Westernport Elementary.

 

The telephone book recycling contest is one component of Allegany County’s successful recycling program.  In addition to recycling standard newspapers, cans, glass, plastic, and other materials, Allegany County also offers electronic recycling (e-cycling) for computers, etc. and operates a compost site.

 

Allegany County’s Recycling Coordinator is available to speak with school groups, civic organizations, etc. about the recycling program in Allegany County. For information contact Terry A. Bennett, 701 Kelly Road, Cumberland, MD 21502-2803, 301-777-5933 Ext. 210, terry.bennett@allconet.org. Allegany County Government’s website, www.gov.allconet.org, has recycling information. From the homepage, click “departments” – click “recycling.”