DePaolo Middle School has been named the second runner up in the “Recycled Playground Challenge,” courtesy of Colgate, ShopRite, and recycling pioneer TerraCycle. DePaolo earned a total of 8,494 Playground Credits by recycling waste and through online voting to place in the contest. The second runner up prize winner will receive 500 kids toothbrushes, 500 kids toothpaste tubes, a Colgate Bright Smiles Futures van visit, and a Shoprite gift card. Flanders Elementary PTO, a Southington school organization, placed among the six honorable mentions with 1,539 Playground Credits. The Recycled Playground Challenge launched in March 2016 among schools throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and Maryland participating in the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program a free recycling program operated by Colgate and TerraCycle. Participating schools earned one Playground Credit for each unit of oral care waste, such as empty toothpaste tubes and floss containers, sent to TerraCycle for recycling. Schools earned additional Playground Credits by encouraging parents and teachers to vote online. The Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program is an ongoing activity, open to any individual, family, school or community group. For each piece of waste sent in using a pre-paid shipping label, participants earn money toward donations to the school or charity of their choice. To learn more about the Colgate® Oral Care Recycling Program program, visit www.terracycle.com. To learn more about Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures®, Colgate’s global oral health education program, visit www.colgatebsbf.com.

Hillcrest Elementary PTO of the Somerset section of Franklin has been named an honorable mention in the “Recycled Playground Challenge,” courtesy of Colgate-Palmolive (“Colgate”), the global oral care leader; ShopRite, which has more than 250 stores in the Northeast; and recycling pioneer TerraCycle. Hillcrest Elementary PTO earned a total of 907 Playground Credits by recycling waste and through online voting to place in the contest. The honorable mention prize winner will receive a $150 ShopRite Gift Card, 500 Colgate kids toothbrushes, and 500 Colgate kids toothpaste tubes. The Recycled Playground Challenge launched in March 2016 among schools throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut and Maryland participating in the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program a free recycling program operated by Colgate and TerraCycle. During the contest window, participating schools earned one Playground Credit for each unit of oral care waste, such as empty toothpaste tubes and floss containers, sent to TerraCycle for recycling. Schools earned additional Playground Credits by encouraging parents and teachers to vote online. “On behalf of Colgate, I am pleased to congratulate the students, parents and faculty of Hillcrest Elementary PTO on being named an honorable mention in the Recycled Playground Challenge,” said Juan Pablo Zamorano, president, North America, Colgate-Palmolive. “The energy and passion they put into protecting the environment has truly made a difference.” The Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program is an ongoing activity, open to any individual, family, school or community group.  For each piece of waste sent in using a pre-paid shipping label, participants earn money toward donations to the school or charity of their choice. To learn more about the Colgate® Oral Care Recycling Program program, visit www.terracycle.com.

For the past several months, Doyle School collected Colgate brand oral care waste such as empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and floss containers and sent these to Terracycle for recycling. The school was given one playground credit for every shipment of recyclables sent. Members of the community also voted daily on a website that tracked their progress and standing among other schools in the competition.

Sponsored by TerraCycle, Colgate and ShopRite, the teams earn one "playground credit" for each shipment of empty toothpaste tubes, toothbrushes and floss containers sent to TerraCycle by students and teachers, and one credit for every online vote cast for the school at http://www.terracycle.com/en-US/contests/colgateshopriteplayground2016.

A school in Southington is in the running for a new playground. For more information about the challenge, visit Terracycle's website here.