Newton Woman Named a Top 5 Recycler in National Contest

Newton's Jill Schon earned the distinction of one of the nation's top recyclers in the TerraCycle Solo Summer Celebration contest.

Red Solo cups can be spotted at many parties, but because they are a #6 plastic they are difficult to recycle and often end up in landfills. 

The contest challenged people to collect 1,000 cups, but Schon went well above and beyond that mark. She collected 16,178 cups to collect money for The Paint Bar in Newton., according to an announcement from TerraCycle. She was one of the top five collectors in the United States.

She was rewarded with a bonus toward a charity donation and a TerraCycle prize pack full of upcycled products, including trashcans, picnic tables and watering cans. 

“The numbers reached by the top five collectors are impressive. Collecting more cups than the rest of the country is a reward in itself, but I am delighted to award these leaders for their efforts,” said Tom Szaky, TerraCycle CEO.  “Not only have they together kept over 100,000 cups from local landfills, but they have also made a recycling impact on their community.”