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The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc. (ISRI) has recognized the U.S. Environmental Agency’s Design for the Environment program with its Design for Recycling award. The award was announced during the 2007 ISRI Convention & Exposition in New Orleans in April.

The EPA program was chosen because of its overall leadership in creating innovative design partnerships and its dedication to empower businesses and industry sectors to incorporate environmental considerations, along with performance and cost considerations, into decision-making.

"EPA’s Design for the Environment and ISRI’s Design for Recycling share the vision that it takes voluntary programs to produce changes in manufacturing processes that consider a product’s end-of-life during the design stage," Frank Cozzi, ISRI chair, said.

Virginia Beach City Public Schools has been awarded the 2007 Virginia Recycling Association (VRA) Award for Excellence in the Government/Nonprofit category.

Awarded by the VRA, the school division was nominated by Tidewater Fibre Corp. (TFC Recycling) for its commitment to recycling.

Recycling an average of 123 tons of material per month, the school division’s expanded recycling program catapulted into full force in September of 2006. Each of the school’s 4,500 classrooms is equipped with a recycling bin used for disposal of paper products, aluminum and steel, plastics and glass. These bins are collected daily by 719 custodians working in the school division’s 87 schools and office buildings.

"TFC Recycling helped the school division expand our existing recycling program by arranging a flexible pickup schedule to accommodate the tremendous amount of recyclable material that is generated in our schools every day," says John Kalocay, assistant superintendent of administrative support services. "It is gratifying to know that Virginia Beach City Public Schools has been recognized as a leader in Virginia for making a positive contribution to our environment through its recycling efforts while setting a positive example to our students and staff."

In addition to recycling products from the classroom, the school division is a champion of recycling office supplies, such as printer cartridges, light bulbs and cafeteria products, including plastic milk containers referred to as "chugs."

"The Virginia Beach City Public Schools are to be congratulated for their tremendous efforts in recycling. We applaud their hard work. Each student, teacher, custodial team member and administrator is an essential park of the ‘Green Team’ and each contributes to the success for the whole program," says Michael Benedetto, vice president and owner of TFC Recycling.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM), Novelis Inc. and Keep America Beautiful Inc. (KAB) are sponsoring the fourth annual "Cans for Cash - City Recycling Challenge," a national contest that rewards cities for recycling used aluminum beverage cans.

"Building a sustainable environment for your community" is the theme of this year’s campaign, which promotes how local action to recycle will help reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.

"As outlined in the 10-Point Plan, cities are encouraged to implement programs to improve energy efficiency and reduce community carbon emissions. The goals of the Recycling Challenge complement this effort and demonstrate how the simple act of recycling aluminum can positively impact our environment," Douglas Palmer, mayor of Trenton, N.J. and president of the USCM, says.

This year’s City Recycling Challenge will last four weeks, starting Oct. 1 and ending on Oct. 30, 2007, with 12 $5,000 grants awarded to municipalities and four $2,500 grants awarded to KAB affiliates.

Registration is from May 1 to Sept. 28. There is no entry fee. Winners will be awarded for the most cans collected, the most innovative ideas to promote the recycling of aluminum beverage cans and for partnering with a local KAB affiliate to encourage innovative and sustainable recycling initiatives.