The 2009 Northwestel Directory Recycling Program has had an all-star year. The annual program broke a number of records this year, with more schools participating than ever before, which brought in the highest number of outdated directories for recycling in the program’s eight-year history. A number of new schools joined the program, including four British Columbia schools, which is also a first for the program.

Students from 27 schools raised close to $17,000.00 for school programs and activities. This included eleven Whitehorse schools, twelve Yukon community schools and four northern B.C. schools. In total, the 27 schools represent a population of more than 4000 students. [see attached list of participating schools and their results]

“This program is a wonderful success story,” said Anne Kennedy, Northwestel Director Communications. “Through the years, more and more schools have joined the recycling effort, providing an opportunity for students to earn donation dollars from Northwestel and to have a hands-on learning experience with a green initiative. Since this program began, Northwestel has contributed a total of $126,700.00 to schools in Yukon, the Northwest Territories and northern B.C. Likewise, schools have collected more than 87,000 directories for recycling since 2002. Everyone involved in the program can feel very proud of what they’ve accomplished. No matter how large or small the school may be, every little bit counts.”

Northwestel publishes 42,000 Yukon and northern B.C. directories each year, in addition to 38,000 directories in the N.W.T., where the program is also offered.

Under the program, all directories collected are shipped to locations in the south for recycling. Participating schools are rewarded with cash contributions for school activities and programs. This year’s Yukon and northern B.C. program began on May 1st, in conjunction with the release of the 2009 northern B.C. and Yukon phone directories, and ended on May 29th. Students, teachers and support staff were invited to obtain directories from family, friends, neighbours, businesses and government offices, and then bring them to collection boxes at the schools.

Under a partnership arrangement, Northwestel provides the boxes for directory collection at the schools, the City of Whitehorse coordinates the pickup of the directories from all Whitehorse schools, and Northwest Transport, part of the Manitoulin Group, ships them from Whitehorse to the recycling centre in Edmonton. Most participating schools outside of Whitehorse bring their directories to a drop-off point in Whitehorse. In the case of Dease Lake, the directories are being shipped to Smithers, B.C. for recycling, with the assistance of Bandstra Transportation Systems Limited, based in Smithers.

Last year, nineteen Yukon schools collected more than 6600 old directories and raised more than $12,000.00.

There are three levels of recognition in the Northwestel Directory Recycling Program. Schools earn $200 for meeting a target of one directory per student (Green Level), $500 for 1.25 directories per student (Jade Level) and $750 for 2 or more directories per student (Emerald Level). Northwestel also provides a smaller cash award of $100.00 for participating schools which do not meet the minimum requirements of the program, to encourage schools for their efforts, even when circumstances prevent them from meeting requirements for the main cash awards.

Northwestel provides complete telecommunications solutions and entertainment services in the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Yukon, northern British Columbia and High Level, Alberta. The company’s operations span nearly 4 million square kilometres of the most remote and rugged areas of Canada.

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