Press Release

VALLEY SCHOOLS LEARN THAT STUDENTS + CANS = MONEY!

Antelope Valley, CA, December 1, 2007 – Over 28,000 students from 38 schools, in eight local school districts recently completed their participation in Waste Management’s 16th annual “Total Trash Out.”

The students collected 10,751 pounds of aluminum cans and raised over $18,800 for Antelope Valley schools. Total Trash Out, run annually by Waste Management of the Antelope Valley is an aluminum can contest which helps raise money for schools and teaches children about the importance of recycling and keeping the environment clean. Since 1991, participating schools have collected a total of 355,540 pounds of cans, or more than 11 MILLION cans, earning over $384,000 for budget crunched schools.

The winning schools and students were announced at the annual awards luncheon on November 14th at the Stanley Kleiner Activity Center in Lancaster. Lancaster City Mayor Hearns, and Chris Ludlum, staff at the City of Lancaster, were honored guests at the luncheon.

Schools could win two different ways – Total Pounds Collected and Total Pounds per Student. In addition to the monetary awards, schools also won prizes, as follows:

TOTAL POUNDS COLLECTED
  • Meadowlark Elementary - Grand prize of a Dessert Party for the entire school
  • AV Christian School - 1st place with a party for 25 students at Mulligan Family Fun Center
  • Quartz Hill Elementary - 75 Recycling Containers for their classrooms
  • Valley View Elementary - Sports Balls for recess
  • Vista San Gabriel - School Supplies Gift Baskets for their school

    TOTAL POUNDS PER STUDENT
  • Meadowlark Elementary - Grand prize of a Dessert Party for the entire school
  • AV Christian School - 1st place with a party for 25 students at Mulligan Family Fun Center
  • Grace Lutheran School – 75 Recycling Containers for their classrooms
  • Valley View Elementary - Sports Balls for recess
  • Vista San Gabriel - School Supplies Gift Baskets for their school

    “For 16 years, the Total Trash Out program has provided participating schools with needed funding and – at the same time – has taught thousands of local students about the importance of recycling,” said Lisa Hemenway, Waste Management’s Recycling Compliance Manager. “Through this joint effort with students, teachers, parents and neighbors, Total Trash Out not only benefits students and schools, it benefits the entire community.

    This year, Waste Management recognized the top three students that collected the most cans with gift cards to the Antelope Valley Mall. The students included:

  • First place, Carina Hamblin, AV Christian School - 12,800 can.
  • Second place, Christopher Watson, AV Christian School - 12,783 cans
  • Third place, Samantha Lecompte, Meadowlark Elementary - 10,009 cans

    Total Trash Out is a joint effort between Waste Management and the following sponsors: the City of Lancaster, the City of Palmdale, Alameda Metals Recycling, AV Florist, Clear Channel of AV, D James, Four Star Printing, Robertson’s Palmdale Honda, Lancaster West Rotary, Lockheed Martin, Mulligan Family Fun Center, and PNS Pins & Collectibles.

    Waste Management has served the Antelope Valley for over 35 years and is proud to be a community partner to AV residents, and an environmental steward of its unique natural resources. Waste Management is one of the nation’s largest providers of recycling and solid waste services. Waste Management is a full service company offering residential, commercial, construction and recycling services. For more information about recycling, log onto www.KeepingAVclean.com.

    # # # # #