Cash for trash: Scholarships reward students who recycle

Dallas ISD is inviting graduating seniors who practice recycling at their schools to apply for one of three $1,000 scholarships available from the district’s sanitation services vendor, Waste Management.

Aaron Rankin, who coordinates Dallas ISD’s recycling programs, said Waste Management wants to recognize students who actively participate in school recycling efforts.

“The company feels it’s important to reward these young people because they are our future,” he said. “Encouraging and rewarding them for taking part in recycling and green initiatives will hopefully motivate them to continue the behavior as adults.”

Since not every school has a recycling program, Rankin said students who volunteer to support campus beautification or gardening efforts are also invited to apply.

Dallas ISD has seen an expansion in recycling this school year. Approximately 40 schools have launched new programs, and Rankin said he hopes that the scholarships will incentive more schools to create recycling clubs.

“Any way that we can motivate students to become good stewards of the environment is positive,” he said. “Our landfills are filling up. Any items that we can remove from the trash stream will help sustain the planet.”

Interested students can download and complete the Waste Management scholarship application and submit it by the March 16 deadline. Winners will be announced by May 1. Campus administrators who want to explore campus recycling opportunities can contact Rankin at arankin@dallasisd.org.