Hillsboro School District Receives National Sustainability Award

HILLSBORO, OR — Continuing its effort to encourage sustainable practices, Trex Company recognized Hillsboro School District's L.C. Tobias Elementary as the national winner of the 10th annual Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge.

Designed to help educate students on the importance of recycling, the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge asks K-12 schools across the country to collect and recycle as much plastic and polyethylene materials as they can for a chance to win Trex products for their respective school. The Trex Company is the world's largest manufacturer of wood-alternative deck products, focusing specifically on the use of recycled materials in its production processes.

"Offering a rewarding, hands-on school project, the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge provides students with a better understanding and appreciation for sustainable practices," Stephanie Hicks, material resource coordinator for Trex, said in a statement. "After a decade, the program is still growing — with a record number of schools competing this year — and continues to educate tens of thousands of students about environmental responsibility."

To earn its first place award, Tobias students recycled more than 1,300 pounds of polyethylene plastic, Trex officials said. Along with first place recognition, the school also received a Trex bench and picture frame made from composite materials.

More than 6,300 pounds of plastic was collected from a record number of Hillsboro schools since the program began on Nov. 15, 2016 — America Recycles Day. Trex, for its part, uses more than 1.5 billion plastic bags annually in its production.

"The Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge is not only an engaging way to teach the importance of recycling, but it also serves as an incredible team building exercise," HSD Resource Conservation Manager Heidi Burkart said in the statement. "Our students worked together and with the community to recycle as much plastic as possible, and we are so thrilled that they demonstrated such strong leadership in this effort to save the planet!"

Hillsboro city officials for years have promoted sustainability in all areas of city government work, and have also pushed to see sustainable efforts occur in other areas of the city, like the school district.

"We are very proud of our close partner, the school district, and their efforts to divert waste from landfill by removing this very large amount of plastic for recycling," Hillsboro Sustainability Manager Peter Brandom told Patch in an email Friday. "It is also a uniquely powerful way to educate young people on the importance and value of recycling!"

City spokesman Patrick Preston provided Patch with a list of sustainability campaigns and awards initiated and received by the city over the past few years, showing just how important sustainability efforts are in Hillsboro:

Hillsboro recently received the Gold-level SolSmart designation from the US Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), and the Solar Foundation. The designation recognizes Hillsboro’s solar-friendly practices of “cutting red tape to reduce the cost of solar energy at the local level.”

The Hillsboro Sustainability Task Force, established in 2012, developed the Hillsboro Environmental Sustainability Plan and continues to oversee implementation, including support to the numerous community partners implementing Plan actions, annual reporting on progress, and adapting to changes.

The Hillsboro City Council approved and adopted the Environmental Sustainability Plan in 2015. The plan includes 20 sustainability goals and establishes action on more than 75 innovative projects – not just implemented by the City, but by multiple community partner organizations as well. The plan has been recognized by the U.S. Conference of Mayors for its focus on implementation, accountability, and being cutting-edge, yet practical.

In 2016, the City released the first Community Environmental Sustainability Annual Report, which tracks progress and needs for critical community resources: including, electricity, natural gas, air and water quality, wildlife and wildlife habitat, transportation efficiency, and solid waste.

Continuing Hillsboro’s leadership role in promoting the community’s use of sustainable energy and energy-saving practices is a Hillsboro City Council long-term priority. A recent Hillsboro City Council short-term priority is to encourage and support innovative sustainability projects and programs in the South Hillsboro development.

The City is a signatory to the U.S. Conference of Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement and the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge.

Hillsboro is an Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Community (GPC) and is rated #1 in the United States in terms of total green power used.

As mentioned above, Hillsboro recently was recognized as a national leader in solar-friendly practices and has received the Gold-level SolSmart designation from the US Department of Energy SunShot Initiative, the International City/County Management Association (ICMA), and the Solar Foundation.

Since 2009, the City has reduced its energy usage by 25 percent. This achievement followed the City Council’s adoption of the City’s first operational sustainability plan in 2010.

(Also) since 2009, the city has installed 35 electric-vehicle charging stations throughout Hillsboro.

Community members can learn more about Hillsboro’s sustainability efforts at Hillsboro-Oregon.gov/Sustainability.

Photo Courtesy: Hillsboro School District