Great Neck South Middle School Wins Bottle Cap Contest

Great Neck South Middle School has been named winner of the Town of North Hempstead's “May We Have Your Caps Back” Contest.

Topping 49 other North Hemsptead schools to win the second annual event, the middle-schoolers hauled in a total of 150 pounds of bottle caps.

"To put Great Neck’s monumental effort into perspective, in a typical month, the nine school districts participating in the Town’s Comprehensive School Recycling program — combined with those collected from Town buildings and Nassau Coliseum— reaps an average of 300 pounds of caps," according to a North Hempstead press release.

Over recent years, municipalities have discouraged the recycling of plastic bottle caps because plastic soda and water bottles are made from a different type of plastic than the caps, which are most commonly made from polypropylene, which melts at a different temperature during recycling, according to the Town.

North Hempstead officials say they recognize the importance of safeguarding the environment, as well as encouraging our youth to become stewards of the environment.

“By conveying this message to our youth, we continue to make strides towards maintaining the enviable quality of life our residents enjoy now and in the future,” said Town Supervisor Jon Kaiman.

North Hempstead is the first municipality in the country to recycle plastic caps, partnering with Estee Lauder’s Aveda Division which uses the recycled caps to package its products.

“This Caps Back Program is a great way to teach students the importance of taking responsibility to protect the environment and ultimately the quality of life for future generations,” said Town Councilwoman Lee Seeman of Great Neck.

Notre Dame of New Hyde Park earned second place with 100 pounds of caps, and Manhasset High School finished third with 75 pounds. 

The “‘May’ We Have Your Caps Back” Contest is one of several green initiatives conducted by the Town. Others include a video contest for discouraging the use of plastic bags, the S.T.O.P Event that promotes an environmentally friendly way to dispose of household hazardous waste, and the annual EcoFest celebration at the Clark Botanical Garden, among others.