Sulphur, La.—June 17, 2013— CITGO Lake Charles Manufacturing Complex and Kinder High School recently partnered to teach students about the importance of recycling electronics. As part of Kinder High School’s mission to go green, students have adopted electronic recycling at the annual CITGO E-Recycle Day as their community service project for the 2013-2014 school year.
Technology Facilitator and Future Business Leaders of America sponsor Kim Rider and fellow teacher Melody LaFleur have collected and delivered e-waste from Kinder High School to CITGO E-Recycle Day for the last three years. Rider said it is the desire to conserve the environment that led them to engage in this effort, driving as far as Sulphur and Lake Charles to participate in E-Recycle Day. Rider said her goal during the next school year is to have students collect unwanted electronics for E-Recycle Day and also adopt E-Recycle Day as a community service event for Kinder.
“As a computer teacher, educating and demonstrating to our students the proper disposal of electronics through e-recycle events is very important and provides a lasting benefit to them,” said Rider.
Rider said Kinder High School Future Business Leaders of America students will coordinate the details of the project and host several drop-off days during the year, as an expansion of the school's collection. Electronics collected will then be dropped-off at the CITGO E-Recycle Day next spring.
“We will create awareness throughout the community in hopes of protecting the environment, while teaching community service involvement to the students,” she said.
The CITGO Environmental Protection Department visited Kinder High School on May 16 and spoke to students about what e-waste is and why it’s important to recycle items such as computers, microwaves, cell phones and items containing mercury. The department also directed students in developing their plan to e-recycle in Kinder. Because of the efforts of the students, many electronics will be recycled that otherwise would potentially have ended up in a landfill.
CITGO Manager Environmental Protection Phyllis Holifield said she is excited that the students are taking the initiative to care for their environment.
“This is what it’s all about. Passing down environmental stewardship to the next generation is a core value at CITGO and we’d like to recognize these students for this brilliant initiative to recycle electronics in Kinder,” Holifield said.
E-Recycle Day is one of many initiatives sponsored by CITGO as part of its commitment to a cleaner and healthier environment, now and for future generations. Environmental stewardship is a core value of CITGO. We operate our businesses safely and as good stewards of the environment. We recognize that safety, the health of our employees and environmental stewardship are every employee's responsibility.
CONTACT:
Dana Keel
Government & Public Affairs Manager
(o)337-708-8039
(c)337-515-5847
CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and other industrial products. The company is owned by PDV America, Inc., an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A., the national oil company of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
For more information visit www.citgo.com.