Earth Day is Friday, April 22, 2016 and Island students are playing their part, says Minister of Communities, Land and Environment Robert Mitchell.
“Earth Day is an opportunity for us to think about how we can make changes in our daily lives to play our part in protecting the environment,” said Minister Mitchell. “The students and staff of Sherwood Elementary are certainly playing their part by participating in a plastic bag recycling challenge and it was a pleasure for me to visit with them to thank them for their contribution to our environment.”
Sherwood Elementary is one of the Island schools participating in Walmart’s Plastic Bag Grab Challenge. Elementary schools from across Canada are challenged to collect as many bags as possible during Earth Week for a chance to win up to $3,000 for their school.
“As Prince Edward Island’s minister responsible for the environment, it makes me very proud to see young Islanders getting excited about recycling. They couldn’t wait to tell me how many bags they had brought in from home to contribute to the school challenge,” added Mitchell.
The Department of Communities, Land and Environment recognizes schools that make efforts to protect the environment through its annual Environmental Awards. Schools who engage in environmental protection initiatives throughout the year are encouraged to visit the department website to learn about how they can nominate their staff and students.