Falmouth student wins recycling contest

By Mark Roberts

TRANSCONTINENTAL MEDIA

NovaNewsNow.com

Region 6 Solid Waste Management handed out awards to the winners of its annual Nova Scotia Recycles Contest in Liverpool Feb. 6.

Taylor Turnbull, a Grade 6 student at Falmouth District School, won the Grades 4-6 Cloth Bag Design Contest for, “Go Green – Keep our Planet Clean!” Her school received $500 as well for her efforts.

Many of the winners couldn’t make the ceremony at Golden Pond Restaurant due to black ice conditions. Moby S. Loop, however, the always-entertaining recycling robot, made the trip.

Region 6 includes 13 municipalities in West Hants, Lunenburg, Queens and Shelburne counties.

Regional Coordinator Valda Walsh said the night is a celebration of “talent and creativity” and a night to “recognize the importance of recycling. “Here in Region 6, we’re known as leaders in recycling,” she said. “We recycle as much as 60 per cent of our waste. And that has a dramatic impact on the economics of our area as well as our environment.”

Walsh added that school education programs are one of Region 6’s top priorities.

Resource Recovery Fund Board CEO Bill Ring talked about Nova Scotia’s leading role in the country and world through recycling, re-using, composting and other initiatives.

As a result, he said, “they are literally coming from around the world to see how we do things here.” He said governments at all levels and -- of special importance -- the people have earned the province this reputation.

The board helps fund the contest and awards along with corporate sponsors.

He also mentioned their newest initiative, the industry-funded e-waste program and predicted an announcement would be made this spring about a “made-in-Nova Scotia” tire re-use/recycle initiative. Currently, tires are shipped out of the province for processing.

After describing what the board does, he said he hopes the annual contest – the eighth – will continue to inspire young people to help save the environment, which still requires much work. “We need your help.”

Schools with winners received $500 while runner-up winners earned their schools $250. Individuals received a large assortment of environmentally friendly prizes and winning classes will enjoy a pizza party and, for younger students, a visit from Moby.