Earth Day Recycled Art Contest
To promote recycling and celebrate Earth Day (April 22), YCSWA sponsors an annual Recycled Art Contest for York County high school students. Students in grades 9–12 are invited to participate and may submit artwork individually or as a team.
Each year, interested students submit an application which is typically due by mid-February. More details about the 2025 contest will be published when they are available.
2024 Recycled Art Contest Application & Guidelines
2024 Recycled Art Contest Video
2024 Contest Winners
America Recycles Day Elementary School Assembly
Celebrate America Recycles Day (November 15) with a FREE interactive puppet show assembly at your school! A limited number of sponsored presentations are available to York County elementary schools on a first-come, first-served basis.
Many schools have had the delightful experience of meeting Kathleen Jacobs and her puppet friends through the York County Solid Waste Authority’s sponsorship of this assembly program. The performance, “Magic Pots and Recycled Bottles,” focuses on the importance of recycling and the proper management of garbage.
Students participate by answering questions and helping with sound effects. Puppets are made from repurposed common household items, and there’s even a puppet version of the YCSWA’s waste-to-energy mascot, Buster the Combustor Dragon. Buster has a unique construction made up entirely of repurposed materials and spreads the word that garbage is POWER!
This 45-50-minute assembly is appropriate for students in grades 1–6, although kindergarten classes have also attended. Ms. Jacobs performs on a floor or elevated stage for up to 200 students.
To apply for the assembly, submit the application by October 1. If your application is selected, a performance will be scheduled at your school within the first two full weeks of November.
York County Envirothon
The York County Solid Waste Authority is a proud sponsor of the York County Envirothon. This event, organized by the York County Conservation District, includes a comprehensive, multi-media, interdisciplinary environmental education experience. Students learn about Earth’s environment and ecological systems while developing skills to recognize and resolve human impacts on the planet.
Every year, hundreds of York County students in grades 3–12 attend the event, held at Rudy County Park. They compete in a team format within their own grade levels and are tested on their knowledge of aquatics, forestry, soils, and wildlife. At the senior-high level, the winning team goes on to compete at the state level for the chance to represent Pennsylvania at the North American Envirothon, a national competition.
The mission of the Envirothon is to develop knowledgeable, skilled, and dedicated citizens who have an understanding of natural resources and are willing and prepared to work toward achieving and maintaining a balance between the quality of life and the quality of the environment. YCSWA is proud to support and encourage students as they learn how to protect and preserve the environment.
For more information about the York County Envirothon, or to become a sponsor, click here.
Committed to Our Community
At YCSWA, we love supporting our community and educating York County residents on ways to manage waste responsibly and preserve the environment. We are proud to partner with local organizations on a variety of events and programs, including:
Go Green Night at the York Revolution