November 15^th is America Recycles Day (ARD). ARD is a national event that focuses on the   importance of recycling and buying products made with recycled content.

In celebration of this event, Thurston County Solid Waste, in partnership with many local businesses, is pleased to announce the first annual Thurston County (K-12) Schools Recycling Pledge Card Contest.

This contest is designed to reward one class each at the Elementary, Middle and High school levels for submitting the greatest number of recycling pledge cards. All students and teachers are encouraged to get family members, friends, neighbors and others to make the pledge. By completing recycling pledge cards, individual participants can promise to do more to protect the environment through their recycling efforts, help a classroom win a great educational tool, a classroom pizza party, and be entered in a contest to win both local and national prizes.

The class with the largest number of pledges at their level will receive a refurbished Dell desktop computer (Courtesy of PC Salvage) and a pizza party (Courtesy of Pizza Time) for their efforts. All participating classrooms will receive a certificate of participation and recognition of their efforts. All participating teachers will be entered in a local drawing to win one of several prizes donated by local businesses, including gift certificates for the Waterstreet Café, The Oyster House, Red Wind Casino, Get in Touch Massage and The Massage Place.

In addition, each individual who fills out a pledge card will be entered into a national drawing. Adults will have a chance to win an all-inclusive Alaskan Cruise and youth under 18 will be able to win one of five Trek bicycles.

If your class would like to enter this contest, simply call Amber Wells at (360)754-3355 extension 7669 or e-mail at wellsa@co.thurston.wa.us . Contest ends November 17, 2006.

America Recycles Day reminds all Americans of our world’s precious resources and of our personal responsibility, as stewards, to preserve and protect those resources for ourselves and future generations. We hope to work in partnership with others to instill these values in the children of Thurston County.

Please visit www.co.thurston.wa.us/wwm or www.americarecyclesday.com for more information about recycling and this national awareness campaign.