June 22, 2006

Sebelius encourages State workers to Get Caught Recycling!

Governor Kathleen Sebelius along with Kansas Department of Health and Environment Secretary Roderick Bremby jointly announced today the benefits of a recently implemented pilot project to establish Kansas “Green Teams” to encourage state workers to recycle, reduce waste and purchase environmentally friendly products.

“In the first few months of 2006, Kansas government has saved nearly $5,000 through revenue on recycled office paper and reduced waste hauling costs in the Capitol Complex including the Statehouse,” Governor Sebelius said. “This is good news for our environment as well as our budget.”

“The Green Teams were formed by KDHE Bureau of Waste Management to show State employees in downtown Topeka how to effectively recycle and reduce waste,” Bremby said.

The Green Team concept was launched last year as a joint project of KDHE, the Department of Administration, HealthQuest, Division of Purchases, and Division of Facilities Management.

“This initiative involves state workers ‘practicing what we preach’ and it will save tax dollars, create jobs, reduce materials being wasted, save energy and help protect the Kansas health and environment,” said Bremby. He added that this effort of state agencies to recycle also reduces the amount of material that enters Kansas landfills and the air.

“As a result of the Green Teams, more than 43 tons of paper has been recycled, which equals more than 4,000 trees saved and the prevention of more than 213 tons of ‘greenhouse’ gasses being emitted into our air,” said Bremby.

Green Team members in each building serve as recycling facilitators by developing ways to recycle common office items such as paper, plastic, aluminum, and printer cartridges, and to reduce wastes. Future plans include expanding Green Team efforts throughout the entire Capitol Complex and into state offices all across Kansas.

Green Team members also encourage co-workers and fellow Kansans to enter KDHE’s Get Caught Recycling! Contest. Contest entrants should send in photos, videos, audiotapes, short stories, etc., depicting how they were ‘Caught Recycling.’ In addition to $100 cash prizes, top-winning entries can win up to a $2,500 Learning Quest College Savings Account. For information on how to enter the Get Caught Recycling! Contest call 1-800-282-9790 or go to www.GetCaughtRecycling.org