File:Debbie Phelps (30896231458).jpg

Tuesday, September 18, 2018 (Parkville, MD) – Baltimore County is a little bit cleaner and greener thanks to the efforts of school children and community members who participated in this year’s Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge. County Executive Don Mohler, Baltimore County Public Schools (BCPS) Superintendent Verletta White and Debbie Phelps, Executive Director of the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, announced this morning that twelve Baltimore County public schools were winners in this program, which resulted in thousands of volunteers participating in more than three hundred litter clean-ups around the County over the past year.

“We are just delighted with the enthusiastic response we’ve gotten to this program from our students, teachers and groups in the community who take pride in helping to clean up our neighborhoods and keep litter out of our waterways and the environment,” Mohler said.

“The Clean Green 15 Challenge is an effective, real-world way for our students to learn about the environment as they demonstrate pride in their schools and communities,” said BCPS Superintendent Verletta White.

“The Clean Green 15 challenge is a great, hands-on way for students and community members to get involved and make a difference by putting litter in its place,” said Baltimore County Council Chair Julian Jones.

Clean Green 15 Results: Tons of Litter Collected, Thousands of Grant Dollars Distributed to Schools!

The 2018 program resulted in 338 clean-ups conducted by 5,057 volunteers who picked up 3,471 bags of litter and debris. This is a 29% increase in volunteers over last year!

In addition to litter, Clean Green 15 volunteers collected many tons of bulk trash items from parks, streambanks, schoolyards and other locations around Baltimore County. Clean-ups included schoolchildren as well as community-based volunteer activity.

Through the Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge, the Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools awarded grants to the top winning schools to fund school-based instructional projects emphasizing the theme of environmental literacy. Examples could include installing a reading garden or rain garden, planting trees, diverting downspouts, or environmental education projects. Six schools won Honorable Mention awards and received technology prizes.

Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge Winning Schools – 2018

Grand Prize - Volunteers: $3,000 grant Reisterstown Elementary School

Grand Prize - Weight: $3,000 grant General John Stricker Middle School

Elementary Schools Prize: $1,500 grant Chesapeake Terrace Elementary School

Middle Schools Prize: $1,500 grant Parkville Middle School and Center of Technology

High Schools Prize: $1,500 grant Dulaney High School

Special Schools Prize: $1,500 Grant Battle Monument School

Honorable Mention: iPad prize Bear Creek Elementary School

Honorable Mention: iPad prize Edgemere Elementary School

Honorable Mention: iPad prize Lansdowne High School

Honorable Mention: iPad prize Milbrook Elementary School

Honorable Mention:iPad prize Perry Hall Middle School

Honorable Mention:iPad prize Stoneleigh Elementary School

2018 Sponsors: BGE, Comcast, Baltimore County Department of Environmental Protection and Sustainability

Clean Green 15 is Underway for Next Year

In addition to awarding prizes to the winning schools from this year, officials also announced that the Team BCPS Clean Green 15 Litter Challenge is on for next year, with groups eligible to log clean-ups from May 1, 2018 through April 30, 2019 for consideration in next year’s awards.

Through this program, BCPS schools and their community supporters conducted quick 15-minute litter clean-ups and competed from last May through this April to see which school communities could log the most clean-ups. The program is open to any group, including school-based groups, places of worship, youth groups, civic or community groups, scout troops, sport teams, businesses or other organizations that wish to help clean up their community. Groups are asked to report their clean-ups on the BCPS website and designate a school to receive credit.

Clean Green Collaboration