Date:

July 16, 2003

For More Information Contact:

Kristi Wamstad-Evans, Recycling Specialist, 441-8215

Mayor Coleen Seng today presented awards to top participants in "Clean Your Files" Week. This was the City's fifth year of participating in the annual event to encourages citizens to increase the amount of paper recycled in the workplace.

"This program is a win-win situation for our community," Mayor Seng said. "Office workers and schools help the environment by decreasing the loads sent to the landfill. Recyclers also benefit from receiving the high quality letter and copier paper."

The City of Lincoln Recycling Office estimates this year’s 25 participants recycled more than 29,500 pounds of paper during the week of April 21 through 25. City Recycling Coordinator Gene Hanlon said that represents an environmental savings of four-and-a-half dump truck loads of waste, an Olympic-size pool worth of water or enough energy to power the County-City Government Center for three days.

Awards were presented in three categories:

• The private business award went to Duncan Aviation, which collected 60 pounds of paper per employee
• The governmental/institutional sector award went to the East High School Business Department with more than 42 pounds of paper recycled per person.
• The school award went to LPS’s Yankee Hill Program with seven pounds of paper recycled per student.

"Clean Your Files Week" is organized by Recycling at Work, a campaign of the National Office Paper Recycling Project, a public-private partnership managed by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, with the help of "Clean Your Files" national sponsors. Local sponsors include the City of Lincoln, Midland Recycling, the Lincoln Public Schools, and WasteCap of Lincoln.