The essay will focus on importance the role of the consumer in setting out clean, separated recyclables and how this contributes to the overall health of  recycling. What is the impact on recycling plants which process the materials received from the “blue bins” and  end users such as paper mills which receive bales of recycled paper  and turn it back into news print, cardboard boxes and other paper products.

Mark Naef-President of Naef Recycling, board member of the New York State Association for Reduction, Reuse and Recycling and a long term recycling activist says, “Consumers play a key role in the recycling process. It is important for the public to understand that  what they do on a daily basis at home,  which might seem inconsequential, can  significantly  impact massive industrial plants.”

One scholarship will be awarded to a high school  senior from the city of Syracuse school system. The other scholarship will be awarded to any high school  senior who resides in Onondaga, Oswego, Delaware or Schoharie county.

The essay contest will be judged by a five person committee:

*  Carmen Harlow - Deputy Commissioner of Public Works, City of Syracuse

*  Don Hughes - Board member, Recycling Committee, Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency

*  Mark Naef - President, Naef Recycling LLC

*  T. Brendan Whelan - Chairman of the Environmental Protection Committee, Onondaga County legislature.

* Martha Loew - President, Iroquios Chapter of the Sierra Club and long time environmental activist.

Maximum word length: 1,000 Deadline for submission: October 31, 2005 Winner to be announced at a ceremony Monday, Nov. 14. Date and time to be announced. For more information call 315-463-7266.