Sustainability Initiatives

New Jersey elementary wins recycling contest, gets new playground

$50,000 playground has opened at Hawthorne Park Elementary in Willingboro.
June 15, 2017

A Burlington County, N.J., elementary school has a new playground thanks to students' recycling efforts.

CBS Philly reports that a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the new playground at Hawthorne Park Elementary School in Willingboro.

The playground itself is made from recycled materials, such as old tooth brushes, plastic floss containers and toothpaste tubes.

Hawthorne beat about 200 schools from six states that competed in the 2016 Recycled Playground Challenge, a contest sponsored by Colgate, ShopRite, and TerraCycle.

The new playground cost about $50,000, according to contest officials.

The school year school is ending soon, but the playground will be open for the community.

“It’s not just for our kids,” says Dumar Burgess, principal of Hawthorne Park Elementary. “Kids can play all summer. We invite parents to come out and use it to get the kids out from playing video games. They can come out and enjoy it.”

Video from CBS Philly:

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy, senior editor, has written for AS&U on a wide range of educational issues since 1999.

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