On Thursday, May 7, ReMA’s New England Chapter hosted an awards ceremony for the winners of the Connecticut state JASON Learning Contest in partnership with the Boys and Girls Village. Students also received a tour of ReMA member HW Green’s recycling operation, connecting classroom learning to real-world opportunities. Now in its second year, the Connecticut state-JASON Learning Contest is an example of a successful partnership between a ReMA chapter, JASON Learning, and dedicated special education teacher Nicholas LaVecchia, who works at Charles F. Hayden School at Boys & Girls Village.

On this episode of This Week in Recycling we chat with Krista Ostuno, president of HW Green, who served as a judge for the Connecticut state JASON Learning contest. She discusses how championing programs that inspire the next generation allows the recycled materials industry to not only open doors to rewarding careers but also empower students to see the vital role recycling plays in the economy, environment, and daily life.