It's the year 2020 and our planet is in need of our help more than ever before. The good news is that there are countless eco-heroes at the ready to help save the environment. They aren't necessarily the ones running around in fancy capes, although that would be super! I'm referring to those everyday unsung heroes who are making a positive impact in their school and community, building awareness of important eco-initiatives and inspiring others to become stewards of the earth. Imagine being able to boost your impact by winning $20,000 in new technology for your school from Staples Canada by simply sharing your green initiatives in the 2020 Superpower your School Contest!   This year, Staples Canada has teamed up with EcoKids and Earth Day Canada for the 10th annual Superpower your School Contest. Up for grabs is not one, not two but TEN prizes of $20,000 in new technology from Staples Canada to be awarded to elementary and secondary schools across Canada. That's oodles of fancy gadgets and updated tech to help supplement learning in the classroom!  

How to Enter:

 

1. Confirm that your school qualifies to enter by reading the contest Eligibility and Entry Criteria.
2. Learn about the contest details by reading the contest Rules and Regulations.
3. Contact Earth Day Canada at powereco@earthday.ca to discuss your entry in advance (optional).
4. Visit staples.ca/powereco to download and complete the entry form before January 31, 2020.

1. Also, take a look at the step-by-step entry guide for additional tips to consider when filling out your entry.

It's Easy to Make a Difference

  Raise your hand if you have ever set aside special items for recycling during your community's environment day but end up forgetting all about it by the time that day arrives. Phew! I'm glad I'm not alone. Luckily, Staples Canada makes it super easy to recycle on pretty much any day of the year. For example, did you know that you could recycle used toner and ink cartridges in store? I also discovered that schools across the country can request a free ink cartridge collection bin by registering at canadaschoolrecycling.ca. This would be an excellent initiative that you could include as part of your contest entry, one that could help divert the 300 million ink cartridges that would otherwise end up in North American landfills each year. Staples Canada offers additional recycling programs as part of the company's commitment to helping schools in their efforts to save the environment. I was thrilled to learn about the following recycling programs:  

• Battery Recycling: Since 2004, Staples Canada has partnered with Call2Recycle to collect used batteries (rechargeable and alkaline) from all store locations and its Home Office, resulting in over 1 million kilograms of used household batteries that have been collected and safely recycled thus far.
• Writing Instruments: In partnership with TerraCycle®, Staples Canada has been collecting used writing instruments, such as pens, pencils, markers and highlighters at local stores, which are then shipped to TerraCycle for recycling.
• Electronics Recycling: Staples Canada and its national electronics recycling partner eCycle Solutions take back end-of-life electronics at most of its retail locations (excluding stores in Calgary, Alberta), with roughly 20.5 million kilograms of e-waste collected for recycling to date. These items include cell phones, computers, computer parts and more

With support from Staples Canada, it's never been easier to make a difference. So go ahead and get started on your next green campaign. And don't forget to share your school's efforts for a chance to win in the Superpower your School contest!