Contest winner will receive a $100,000 grant
By Chris Fish
cfish@hometownnewsol.com
INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH -- With two months left in the SC Johnson Green Choice Challenge, Indian Harbour Beach is currently ranked 11 out of the 50 communities, competing across the country.
The first-ever SC Johnson Green Choice Challenge, which began in July and ends on Dec. 31, offers a $100,000 grant to the community with the highest recycling participation.
"I am most excited about our level of recycling going up," said Indian Harbour Beach Mayor Gene Newberry. "Our results show we are where we need to be in the future in terms of recycling and self-sufficiency."
Mayor Newberry said he wants to encourage all residents to continue recycling and logging in their progress at www.recyclebank.com.
City Manger Jackie Burns said city officials are overjoyed with the participation being made by residents.
"We are thrilled to be 11 out of 50. This is a win-win situation for us," she said. "We hope to win, but, if we don't, the contest is still a win for the environment and the people."
Ms. Burns said the contest has helped the city, which she said was already one of the recycling cities, become even more environmentally friendly.
Ms. Burns said she hopes residents of Indian Harbour Beach will continue the progress they have had since the beginning of the contest despite the holidays approaching.
"We really hope everyone continues doing what they have been doing," she said. "I know this is a busy time of the year, but I am very excited. This contest has really set the tone for recycling."
Indian Harbour Beach represents the state of Florida in the SC Johnson Green Choice Challenge. The contest coincides with a federal mandate to reduce landfill waste.
In July, Mayor Newberry said the contest points the country toward an environmentally friendly direction.
"It's not like the old days where you are either an environmentalist or you aren't," he said. "Everyone is an environmentalist now. Everyone has to be green. It's just seeing the big picture of how smart we have to be and the planet we have to leave for another generation."
For more information about the challenge, visit www.recyclebank.com/greenchoices.