Chewonki is pleased to announce the third annual Zero Waste Challenge. The contest challenges Maine middle school students (in grades 6, 7 and 8) to develop and submit plans to help his or her school save money and resources by evaluating and reducing waste streams. In April, a total of $3,500 will be awarded to the winners by Chewonki’s Zero Waste partners, Casella Resource Solutions and ecomaine.

“The Zero Waste poster project has catalyzed triple bottom line thinking at Chewonki and we hope it does throughout Maine,” President Willard Morgan said. “Zero waste has environmental, financial and social benefits: We can reduce solid waste, save money and engage students in meaningful education.”

Plan submissions, due March 20, involve completing a school waste assessment; following waste reduction steps on Chewonki’s Zero Waste curriculum poster; proposing specific ways their school can move toward Zero Waste; and putting it all together in a plan.

An independent panel of judges will review the entries and announce winners in April. The first place school will win $1,500, second place school will win $1,000, and the third place school will win $500. There is also prize money for schools that have won awards in the past, but would like to compete again. The funds can be used to either implement the winning plan’s Zero Waste strategy on campus, or help fund a Zero Waste Outdoor Classroom program at Chewonki.

For more information about the contest, go to www.chewonki.org/zerowaste. To see the online version of the Zero Waste curriculum, click on “Posters” at www.chewonki.org/pathways.