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Earth Month (April) Award Winner Announced for Most Improved Collections

Tue, 12 May 2026 19:23:02 GMT

Straus News Wins ACE Foundation Most Improved Earth Month Award

The Advanced Climate Education Foundation is proud to recognize Straus News as the Most Improved Winner in our 2026 Earth Month Challenge.

During April, Straus News increased its textile collections by an impressive 148.7%, earning the top spot in the challenge’s improvement category.

What makes the story even better is that Straus News was not even on the leaderboard earlier in the month. Then came a late push that changed everything.

According to the Straus team, one of the keys was a simple and effective idea: they ran a house ad in the newspaper serving Chester and Goshen during the final two weeks of the month. The result was a meaningful jump in collections and a good reminder that advertising works and local newspapers make a difference.

Straus was also quick to acknowledge that the nicer spring weather probably helped after a rough January, February, and March. Fair enough. Still, better weather alone does not create a 148.7% increase. That kind of improvement takes attention, follow-through, and a willingness to promote the effort.

In recognition of that achievement, the Advanced Climate Education Foundation will provide a $250 award to Straus News.

This is exactly the kind of success Earth Month is meant to inspire: a local organization using its own platform to engage the community, increase participation, and help keep more reusable textiles out of the waste stream.

Congratulations to Becca Tucker, Robin Robinson, and the entire Straus News team on a creative and well-earned win.

Earth Month (April) Award Winner Announced for Most Collected!

Tue, 12 May 2026 18:58:01 GMT

Town of Huntington Recycling Center Wins ACE Foundation Earth Month Collection Award

The Advanced Climate Education Foundation is proud to recognize the Town of Huntington Recycling Center as the Top Overall Collection Winner in our 2026 Earth Month Challenge.

During April, Town of Huntington’s participating textile recycling locations collected an outstanding 5,427.9 pounds of clothing, shoes, and other textiles. It was one of the closest finishes in the challenge, with the Town winning by a mere 10 pounds .

That razor-thin margin makes the achievement even more impressive. Several locations turned in strong Earth Month performances, but Town of Huntington was able to finish first with a determined push at the end.

A big part of that success came from visibility and teamwork. The Town made use of the signage we provided to help make its bins more visible, and special credit goes to Evan Gates , who helped mobilize the Recycling Center team and raise awareness among residents. Those extra steps matter. When people know the bins are there and understand their purpose, participation grows.

The result was a strong Earth Month showing that helped keep thousands of pounds of textiles out of the waste stream and put them to better use.

In recognition of that accomplishment, the Advanced Climate Education Foundation will provide a $250 award to honor the Town of Huntington’s winning effort.

Earth Day is about more than good intentions. It is about turning community awareness into practical action. Town of Huntington did exactly that, and we are grateful for its leadership.

Congratulations again to the Town of Huntington team on an outstanding result.

A Green Leap Forward for Dobbs Ferry Junior Green Team!

Sun, 25 Feb 2024 23:41:46 GMT

Springhurst Elementary's Journey into Clothing Recycling

�� An Afternoon of Green Learning at Springhurst Elementary In Dobbs Ferry, NY

On a brisk February day, the hallways of Springhurst Elementary buzzed with a different kind of energy. The Junior Green Team, led by the vibrant Ms. Sara Sellitti, stepped into a new green frontier - textile recycling. Guided by Ken Bruder from the Advanced Climate Education Foundation, the team participated in an exercise to stitch together new sustainability and climate action concepts.

The Junior Green Team, consisting of enthusiastic fourth and fifth graders, dove into the world of clothing recycling. This extracurricular activity wasn't just another Green Team meeting but a day where curiosity met creativity and awareness.

��️ Pre-Class Curiosity: Before the big day, the group was asked to watch a video about the life cycle of jeans. They discovered how recycling denim could save a whopping 50% of resources compared to making a new pair.

�� Magical Moments in Sustainability: The classroom transformed into a stage where each piece of clothing told its own tale. Students became storytellers, spinning yarns of the past lives of recycled garments.

��vs.�� ✈️ Tying it to the Big Picture: Mr. Bruder painted a clear picture of how fashion impacts our planet. Did you know the textile industry is responsible for more greenhouse gases than all automobiles and airplane flights?

✨ The 'Aha!' Moment: The session's standout was the students' creativity. Their ideas on why someone might recycle their clothing were heartfelt and showcased a deep understanding of sustainability.

The session highlighted a unanimous verdict — action is imperative. Propelled by their newfound understanding, students are now armed to influence change within their families and champion their own textile sustainability initiatives.

A letter to the principal advocating for a textile recycling program is in the works — a testament to the day's success. The Junior Green Team, with Ms. Sellitti at the helm, is now a beacon for other young eco-warriors.

�� How Can You Join In? You, too, can weave into this tapestry of change. Contributions to the clothing drive can be coordinated with Ms. Sellitti and the Junior Green Team, while the Advanced Climate Education Foundation stands ready to empower further action toward sustainability and circularity.

#SustainabilityInEducation #TextileRecycling #CircularEconomy #EnvironmentalEducation #GreenSchools, #YouthEmpowerment,#ClimateAction #EcoFriendly #WasteReduction, #SustainableFashion