State's schools honored for environmental work



Tennessee's top school environmental programs were honored today by the Good Sports Always RecycleTM program. Each school received $1,000 for their efforts, as well as special recognition during an on-field presentation at the University of Tennessee versus University of Kentucky football game.

The 2014 Good Sports Always RecycleTM school challenge winners included: Abintra Montessori School in Nashville, Andrew Johnson Elementary School in Kingsport, Carroll-Oakland Elementary School in Lebanon, Chester County Junior High School in Henderson, Flintville Elementary School in Flintville, McFadden School of Excellence in Murfreesboro, Nature's Way Montessori School in Knoxville, Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Germantown, Valley View Elementary School in Cleveland and Volunteer High School in Church Hill.

Additionally, Brentwood High School in Brentwood received the Good Sports Always RecycleTM Sustainability Steward Award. Brentwood High School received $1,500 for its program.

"We are so proud to see our students and teachers find unique ways to reduce the amount of waste their schools creates, instead of allowing it to end up in landfills," said Bob Martineau, Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation Commissioner. "The average person creates about 4.43 pounds of trash every day, and 2.4 pounds of that ends up in landfills, so Tennessee students are truly having an impact in reducing the waste in our state."
The Good Sports Always RecycleTM program was designed to educate the next generation on the value of caring for the environment, while also providing monetary support for their programs. An annual challenge determines the top 10 programs in the state based on what their school is doing to bring environmental lessons and practices into the classroom. One school also receives the Sustainability Steward award for approaching sustainability by reducing their overall waste footprint through energy and water conservation, recycling programs and the use of green space.

"Through the Good Sports Always RecycleTM program, we see examples of teachers and students forming winning partnerships to make waste reduction a part of their daily routine," said Anne Kilgore, director of Sustainability with Eastman. "Additionally, students and teachers are also encouraging their families, local business leaders and neighbors to join forces and implement recycling efforts to improve their local community."
"We want to congratulate each of our winning schools for their outstanding programs, but also applaud each school that sent in a nomination. Our students are dedicated to caring for the environment, and we couldn't be more proud to support their efforts."
Since its inception in 1993, the program has given more than $120,000 to Tennessee schools in recognition of their environmental efforts.
"The Good Sports Always RecycleTM program also partners with the University of Tennessee to encourage Big Orange fans to toss their empty plastic cups and bottles in designated bins located at sports facilities on campus," said Ron Bonacci, Food City vice president of marketing. "There are more than 1,000 recycling containers on campus, and items are collected and recycled to help protect our environment."
During the 2013 football season, the Good Sports Always RecycleTM program donat