NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ASHBURN, VA (April 16, 2024)—ISRI, the Voice of the Recycled Materials Industry™, in partnership with JASON Learning recognized winners of the 2023-24 Youth Recycling Contest at the ISRI 2024 Convention and Exhibition in Las Vegas, Nevada. Contestants in grades K-12 submitted original posters or videos that communicated the theme of “Design for Recycling®,” which encouraged students to enhance an existing consumer product using Design for Recycling® principles.
“Congratulations to this year’s students who excelled in creatively communicating the important theme of “Design for Recycling®. These student winners effectively demonstrated the value of recycling and the importance of planning for recycling when products are conceptualized. Today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders in championing the essential daily benefits of the recycled materials industry to a sustainable planet.”
Robin Wiener, President of ISRI.
This year’s Poster Contest winners (pictured above) are Emily, Megan, and Heather, seniors from Huntingdon, Pennsylvania, mentored by their teacher Ms. Muchoney. Their innovative redesign of paper plates emphasized recyclability enhancements, including changes to the product’s packaging, adding a removable bio-based layer, and adding a reuse text reminder on the plates themselves.
The Video Contest winners (pictured above) are third-graders Sadie and Luciana from Fairfax, Virginia, under the guidance of Ms. Williams. Their video, “Sustainable Dolls,” illustrated how toy dolls can be repurposed through removable parts, improved labeling, and recyclable packing.
“It’s incredibly inspiring to witness teachers from all subjects—Math, Science, English, History—have students participating in the contest. It exemplifies the interdisciplinary nature of recycling education. This year’s contest submissions demonstrate the creativity that stems from students recognizing the connections of recycling in different areas of their lives, which made their entries truly exciting and unique!”
Dr. Eleanor Smalley, President and CEO of JASON Learning
Students took part in the Youth Recycling Contest by opting to create either a poster/infographic or a two-minute video demonstrating their enhanced product and detailing the improvements made using Design for Recycling® principles. The contest aimed to maximize recyclability, reduce expenses, eliminate hazardous materials, and minimize both time and environmental impact during the recycling process. Learn more here: https://jason.org/2023-isri-jason-recycling-contest/.
The innovative designs and concepts presented by the winners reflect a promising future where young minds are actively engaged in shaping a more eco-conscious world. The success of the 2023-24 Youth Recycling Contest serves as a testament to the power of youth empowerment and education in driving positive change towards a more sustainable planet.
For more information about the annual Youth Recycling Contest and the ISRI and JASON Learning curriculum, please contact Victoria Cross, vcross@jason.org or Matt Sieloff, msieloff@jason.org.
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About JASON Learning
JASON Learning is an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit transforming science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education through real-world STEM curricula, project-based learning experiences for PreK-12 students, and high-quality professional development for teachers. JASON’s mission is to “inspire and educate students everywhere through real science and exploration.” To learn more about JASON, visit https://jason.org/.
JASON Media Contact: Jenna Davis, jdavis@jason.org.
About ISRI
ISRI is the “Voice of the Recycled Materials Industry™,” representing more than 1,700 companies in the U.S. and 40 countries around the globe. Based in Washington, D.C., ISRI provides advocacy, education, safety and compliance training, and promotes public awareness of the vital role recycled materials play in the U.S. economy, global trade, the environment and sustainable development.
