Recycling Through Art
Feb 06, 2018 12:00AM ● By By Elise Spleiss
Winners of the Republic Services 2017/2018 Recycle Poster Contest pose with the Citrus Heights City Council at their January 25, 2018 council meeting. A presentation was made announcing the winners and presenting them with certificates and gift cards to Barnes and Noble. Photo Courtesy of City of Citrus Heights
Hundreds of Students Participate in the Recycle Poser Contest
CITRUS HEIGHTS, CA (MPG) - Six hundred Citrus Heights elementary school students recently took on the challenge of participating in the 2017/2018 Recycle Poster Drawing Contest, hosted by the City of Citrus Heights and its residential trash and recycling service provider, Republic Services.
Student artists from 11 schools in grades kindergarten through 8th grade took on the contest question, “Which of the 4 R’s (Recycle, Reuse, Reduce, Rot) are your favorite?” as inspiration for their artwork. This year had the most schools participating, with Arlington Heights Elementary submitting the most entries.
The purpose of the contest, now in its fifth year, is to increase awareness of and promote the 4 R’s of recycling to students. Through their artwork, they pass on what they have learned to fellow students and the public.
Many thoughtful, creative and educational entries were submitted. The winners were honored at the January 25, 2018 City Council meeting where their winning posters were featured on the big screen. Each winner was called up to receive their certificate and a gift card to Barnes and Noble and to have their photo taken with the mayor and other members of city council.
Scarlett Bonifacio, a 6th grader at Sylvan Middle School, took 1st place honors with her detailed poster portraying the art of composting.
A brainstorming session in June to choose the theme for the 2018 calendar began the contest process. An outreach program to the elementary schools explained the 4 R’s to students. City council members and staff, as well as the staff at Republic, took on the daunting task of honing down 600 entries to the winning 13. Winners from each of the 11 schools and each grade were voted on separately then the top 13 entries were chosen.
In an e-mail, Mayor Steve Miller said, “I would like to congratulate not only these budding young artists and their beautiful job winning this contest and being memorialized on a calendar, I want to thank you (Johnnise Downs) and Republic Services in general for all you do for us.”
The winning posters are now featured in the 2018 Republic Services Citrus Heights Customer Service Calendar and are available at City Hall in the General Services Department.
Republic Services serves 40,000 households in Citrus Heights. Along with the city, they have an aggressive recycling program including education and incentive programs. Among other information, the calendar gives information on their medical sharps disposal program, the Neighborhood Association contest and free neighborhoods cleanups, plus what to do with your motor oil, batteries, leaves and Christmas trees.
Source: Republic Services
