On Monday, July 30 at 11 a.m., the Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) received a grant of $10,000 from Waste Management Charitable Foundation. The event took place in the northeast corner of Union Square Park in Manhattan, where CENYC operates a Greenmarket farmers' market and its Office of Recycling Outreach and Education (ROE) sponsors "Material Mondays", a clothing recycling drive with Goodwill Industries designed to divert these items from the city's waste stream.

The grant was received by CENYC's Environmental Education (EE) program to promote recycling, waste prevention and environmental awareness among high school and intermediate school students in New York City. City Councilmember James Gennaro, chair of the council Environmental Protection Committee, was instrumental in arranging the grant.

Since 1978, the CENYC EE program has been teaching young people how to become environmental stewards. They learn about environmental issues and improve their neighborhoods, schools and homes by conducting environmental improvement projects. The grant from Waste Management will help EE reach more students with a focus on teaching young people the importance of recycling and waste reduction.

"We are very thankful to Waste Management and Councilmember Gennaro for supporting this important program," CENYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen said. "This funding will help us reach more students in our ongoing efforts to educate our youth about the importance of environmental conservation and neighborhood improvement."

Jim VanWoert of Waste Management said: "The Council on the Environment provides essential leadership in promoting public education and increased participation in recycling, reuse and reduction of trash produced by residents and businesses. Waste Management is proud to support these efforts, and looks forward to helping New York City manage its long-term waste management needs."

"I am pleased to have worked with Waste Management to support the great work done by CENYC," Gennaro said. "Teaching our youth about the importance of protecting our environment and creating a new generation of environmentalists is vital to the city's future."

The Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC), is an environmental organization with a history longer than 30 years of making New York City a greener and more sustainable place to live through four programs and special projects including Greenmarket farmers' markets, Environmental Education and Open Space Greening programs and the Office of Recycling Outreach and Education.

For more information visit www.cenyc.org