For the second year, Rumpke partnered with Cincinnati Bell and the Cincinnati Reds to sponsor a telephone directory recycling program.  Students from 23 schools collected 34,650 pounds of outdated directories that could have ended up in the landfill, but instead will be recycled into new products. That's more than 10,000 phone books that were recycled!

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Representatives from the top three schools were recognized at Great American Ball Park before the Reds game September 24. The ceremony was filled with suspense because the schools didn’t know which place they had won until the official announcement. 

Recycling options are available for classrooms, offices and cafeterias.

Roger Bacon High School won first place and $1,000. Hinsdale Elementary School came in second and received $500, and Covedale School placed third, winning $250. As the representatives exited the field, they were already strategizing for next year’s challenge.    

“Our students recovered four tons of directories,” said Megan Guldner, recycling coordinator from Roger Bacon. “We are grateful to the sponsors for giving us the chance to show our community how important being good stewards of our Earth is.”

About the author: Anne Gray is the education specialist at Rumpke.