PRESS RELEASE
Yakima County Announces
Youth Environmental Summit
Registration Deadline - Friday, November 5
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2010
Contacts: Marci Venable, Yakima County Solid Waste Program Coordinator
(509) 574-2450
Lisa Freund, Administrative Supervisor & Public Information Officer
(509) 574-2300
YAKIMA, WA – Yakima County is now seeking participants for the second annual Youth Environmental Summit (Y.E.S.) scheduled for Friday, November 12 at the Yakima Convention Center in Yakima. The goal of the free summit, which runs from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, is to empower middle through senior high-age students and school staff to be environmental advocates in their schools, homes and communities.
“We often get calls from schools asking how they can start a recycling program or ‘green up’ their campuses,” said Marci Venable, Program Coordinator for Yakima County Solid Waste. “The Youth Environmental Summit is a forum that equips students to help make positive changes that will improve their local environment.”
This year’s summit features keynote speaker Tom Szaky, CEO of TerraCycle Inc., a company that started as a producer and distributer for worm compost fertilizer. TerraCycle products have expanded to include such items as backpacks and shower curtains made from candy wrappers and chip bags, typically considered waste. Mr. Szaky has won over 50 awards for entrepreneurship, blogs for Treehugger and Inc Magazine, has published a book and is the star of National Geographic’s hit TV show, “Garbage Moguls.”
Other guest speakers include Amy Korst of the Green Garbage Project, a website which chronicles the life of a typical American couple who dedicated an entire year to not throwing anything away. In addition Marcia Rutan, with Washington Green Schools, will make a presentation on a free web-based program designed to help schools reduce their environmental footprint.
Teachers and school staff are encouraged to participate, and clock hours are available for teaching staff and administrators who attend the summit.
The free event is a part of local efforts to promote America Recycles Day, founded in 1997 to promote recycling programs in the United States. The Youth Environmental Summit will also offer educational exhibits promoting recycling, water conservation, air quality preservation, composting, and hazardous waste prevention information. Lunch is provided.
The Youth Environmental Summit runs from 9:00 AM - 2 PM at the Yakima Convention Center, 10 N. 8th St. in Yakima. Pre-registration is required. There is still no-cost exhibit space available for interested environmental organizations. Register on-line at www.yakimarecycles.com or contact the Yakima County Solid Waste office at (509)-574-2450.