HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Waste, Air, Radiation and Remediation Deputy Secretary Krishnan Ramamurthy and the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP) Executive Director Jennifer Summers yesterday highlighted the student winners of PROP’s 2022 Earth Week Poster and Video Contest. There were 12 winning posters and three winning videos.
“Seeing young people creatively showcase their commitments to the environment shows that future generations are prioritizing sustainable lifestyles, and we all should continue to support these young environmentalists and their efforts,” Ramamurthy said.
The top 12 scoring posters will be used in a calendar template provided electronically to schools, DEP, and members of the public for download and print. The top scoring video will receive an award and be posted on the PROP website. Ramamurthy noted that the entries reflected a wide range of environmental topics such as water conservation, energy efficiency, litter prevention, Recycling, open space preservation and alternative transportation.
“The level of creativity and thoughtfulness exhibited in these submissions is very impressive and I am confident that the students who produced them are well on their way to becoming our next generation of leaders in environmental protection,” Ramamurthy said. “It is imperative that we nurture these young minds and help them develop a lifelong love and appreciation for the natural world around us.”
In 1988, Act 101 was introduced, requiring larger municipalities to recycle. This caused businesses and governments to learn more about recycling and how to properly do it. They also built infrastructure for Pennsylvania’s recycling industry. A lot of focus and resources were put into educating citizens on the ‘what, when, how, and where’ of recycling.
Since then, Pennsylvania has become a model for other states when it comes to recycling. It contributes over $22 billion to Pennsylvania’s gross state product. However, Pennsylvania leaders realize that they need to refocus their efforts on education. This is because recycled materials are only valuable if they are recycled correctly. If not, it causes more problems than it solves. Therefore, it is important to educate people on the right way to recycle so that we can protect our resources and support jobs in the recycling industry.
For more information on PROP’s Earth Week Poster and Video Contest, visit www.proprecycles.org.
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