The York County Solid Waste Authority Sponsors High School Earth Day Recycled Art Contest

To promote recycling and celebrate “Earth Day” (April 22), the York County Solid Waste Authority is sponsoring a Recycled Art Contest for York County High School students. Participating schools include Central York High School, Dallastown Area High School, Kennard-Dale High School, Northern York County High School, Red Land High School, Red Lion Area High School, South Western High School and York Suburban High School. Thirty-one students are participating.

A gallery exhibit will be on display at the Creative York West Gallery at 118 West Philadelphia Street in York from April 15 through April 22. Contest judging and a public reception will be held at the same location on April 18 at 6:30 p.m.

Prizes will be awarded for the top three entries as determined by celebrity judges. They include Director of Communications and Engagement of the Cultural Alliance of York County, Kelley Gibson; President and CEO of the York County Economic Alliance, Kevin Schreiber and Executive Director of Keep York Beautiful, Tom Smith. Each student winner will receive an art supply gift certificate and their school’s art department will also be granted an art supply gift certificate in the same amount.

Some of the students’ materials were generously donated by Refindings and LifePath Christian Ministries. In February, students were invited to a “Picker Day” at Refindings to search through treasures to repurpose into their recycled art pieces.

Earth Day is a worldwide annual event celebrated on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. The first Earth Day, held in 1970, was founded by United States Senator Gaylord Nelson as an environmental teach-in, similar to a general education forum. In 1990 the event grew to the international level with 141 nations participating. Today, it is estimated that more than 192 countries continue to celebrate Earth Day each year.

This is the third year the Authority has conducted a recycled art contest for high school students. The Authority facilitates responsible solid waste management through an integrated strategy that emphasizes waste reduction, education, recycling and resource recovery. The Authority is the owner of the York County Resource Recovery Center in Manchester Township; and owns and operates a Yard Waste Transfer Facility, a Recyclable Materials Drop-off Center and an Education Center. Free educational programming for children and adults is offered year-round by the Authority. Each of their 10 programs meets the PA Department of Education standards for ecology and environment curriculum and is approved for teacher use in the state of Pennsylvania.