Camden Central School District -

The Camden Central School District is proud to announce that Camden High School has won the 2024 Plastic Film Challenge, presented by the Oneida Herkimer Solid Waste Authority.

The Plastic Film Challenge is a competition that pits area schools against each other to see who can keep the most plastic film out of area landfills, and instead put it into the proper channels to be recycled. There are so many things in any household today that would qualify. The packaging from cases of bottled water, the bags from stove pellets, the wrapping around paper towels, and the plastic bags used to wrap some packages are all examples of what the Authority is looking to recycle.

By recycling plastic film in this way, less space is used in landfills, the material can be re-used, and it can be kept away from some of the agency’s recycling equipment, where it can cause issues.

Under the leadership of science teachers Steven Keller and Heidi Libertella, the student body at Camden High School went on to lead all participating high schools with a total of 45 pounds collected. That’s about 0.07 pounds per student. Camden High School students contributed one out of every fifteen pounds collected during the competition. In all, the Authority collected 705 pounds from local schools.

Camden High School principal Aaron Fiorini was excited to hear the news.

“I am very proud that our school has been recognized as one of the winners of this year’s Plastic Film Challenge! Thanks to the hard work and commitment of our students, we collected an impressive 45 pounds of plastic film,” Fiorini said. “A special thank you goes out to Heidi and Steve for their outstanding work in organizing and running this challenge. Their dedication has made a meaningful impact, and we are thrilled to have Camden High School recognized for its role in this important initiative. Congratulations to everyone involved!”

The honor also represents the latest chapter in the District’s strong relationship with the Solid Waste Authority. In December of 2023, the District was selected to receive the Authority’s Recycling Champion award.

The agency will hold another recycling challenge in the spring.