The New Orleans Saints and Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. have teamed up to create a recycling contest among schools in the New Orleans area that will kick off Wednesday, Sept. 25. The top three schools will receive a Saints Junior Training Camp in the spring.
A press conference announcing the contest was held at Airline Park Academy for Advanced Studies, one of the participating schools, on Tuesday. Saints Owner/Vice Chairman of the Board Rita Benson LeBlanc and JulieTufaro, recycling coordinator and major accounts manager for Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd., spoke to the students about the program and stressed the importance of recycling in the community.
"We are thrilled to be collaborating with Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. to give students the opportunity to participate in a recycling competition," LeBlanc said. "It is important that we educate the youth in New Orleans about the importance of recycling and the impact it will have on our future."
Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. will provide a recycling bin to each of the 27 schools registered and will measure their collections each week. Students can use the bin to recycle newspapers, magazines, cardboard, plastics, aluminum items and steel cans.
"We are honored to have implemented recycling in their classrooms," Tufaro said. "Our recycling program is teaching the students from Jefferson Parish Public Schools and New Orleans charter schools about the environmental impact that they each have while competing which is always exciting. It is our hope that each student makes recycling part of their everyday life as they are our future."
NewOrleansSaints.com will be launching a new page on the website that students can visit to learn more information about recycling and a list of recyclable items. They will also be able to track their progress, as well their competitions, on Oct. 16, Nov. 6 and Nov. 27.
The schools that have registered for the contest so far include: Kipp McDonogh 15 Middle School, Kipp New Orleans Leadership Academy, Renew Schaumburg, Renew Accelerated High School, Renew Cultural Arts Academy, Renew Scitech, Renew Dolores Aaron Elementary School, Akili Academy, Paul Habans Charter School, Slyvanie Williams, Cohen College Prep, Crocker College Prep, Lagniappe Academy, Mildred Osbourne, Morris Jeff Community School, New Orleans Math and Science High School, Einstein Charter School, Butler Elementary, Riverdale Middle School, Riverdale High School, Metairie Academy, Airline Park Academy, Haynes Academy, T.H. Harris Middle School, Adams Middle School, Patrick Taylor Academy and Gretna No. 2 Academy.
If you would like to your school up for the New Orleans Saints and Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd. recycling contest, send an email to community@saints.nfl.com.
