You are here
Another Successful Year for Northwestel Directory Recycling Program
Monday, June 14, 2010
The 2010 Northwestel Directory Recycling Program has broken several more records, with more schools participating than ever before and more funds raised than in the program’s nine-year history. Four new schools in Iskut, Fort Nelson and Watson Lake joined the program. In total, 28 schools participated in the recycling program.
Schools raised nearly $18,000.00 this year for school programs and activities by collecting more than 8,000 outdated directories. This included 12 Whitehorse schools, nine Yukon community schools and seven northern B.C. schools. In total, the 28 schools represent a population of more than 4800 students. [see attached list of participating schools and their results]
“We are so proud of the way northern schools respond to this program, year after year,” said Anne Kennedy, Northwestel Director Communications. “More schools have been joining the effort every year, giving their students an excellent opportunity to raise funds for school projects and activities. From the smallest community school with just a few students to large city schools, students are working together to make a difference for the North and for the environment.”
Since the program began in 2002, Northwestel has contributed more than $150,000.00 to participating schools in Yukon, northern B.C., and Northwest Territories. Schools in all three areas have diverted more than 100,000 directories from municipal landfills. That is roughly two semi-trailer truck loads or 36,363 kilograms (80,000 pounds) of directories.
Northwestel publishes 42,000 Yukon and northern British Columbia 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 April 26th, in conjunction with the release of the 2010 northern B.C. and Yukon phone directories, and ended on May 24th. 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. Participating schools outside of Whitehorse bring their directories to a drop-off point in Whitehorse. In the case of Dease Lake and Iskut, the directories are being shipped to Smithers, B.C. for recycling, with the assistance of Bandstra Transportation Systems Limited, based in Smithers.
“We are very pleased to partner with the City of Whitehorse, Northwest Transport and Bandstra Transportation to make this program possible for the benefit of students and schools in both Yukon and northern B.C.,” added Kennedy.
Last year, 27 Yukon and northern B.C. schools collected more than 8,600 old directories and raised approximately $17,000.00.
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 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.
