Pratt Industries, America’s largest 100% recycled packaging company, is providing $75,000 in cash prizes to Manhattan’s Community Boards to spur the growth of residential recycled paper in the Borough. The contest, financially funded by Pratt Industries, has been collaboratively designed by The Manhattan Borough President’s Office, The Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB), and The Department of Sanitation New York (DSNY).

The Manhattan Paper Challenge is a way to encourage a higher rate of recycling among the twelve community boards in the Manhattan Borough. Since opening in the late 1990s Pratt’s paper mill has produced over 7 million tons of 100% recycled paper, saving over 120 million trees which would require a forest almost 20 times the size of Manhattan. While this amount of paper recycled in Manhattan through Pratt’s 22-year partnership with New York City is impressive, there is always more paper to recycle!

The challenge will run from July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2020. The community boards that achieve the highest rate increase in paper recycling will be awarded quarterly as well as grand prizes awarded at the end of the challenge to the three highest performing community boards. See below for details! In addition, Pratt will provide regular status updates on this website as well as via Social Media. Follow along via #ManhattanPaperChallenge on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn!

In honor of Earth Day, we announce the winners of the 3rd quarter of the Manhattan Paper Challenge:

• 1st Place, Manhattan Community Board 11 (East Harlem) — New York Common Pantry
• 2nd Place, Manhattan Community Board 3 (Lower East Side & East Village) — Hamilton-Madison House
• 3rd Place, Manhattan Community Board 1 (Downtown Manhattan) — Womankind

Mission

To increase awareness regarding paper recycling participation and generation in Manhattan through the community, schools, and citizens, with the paramount issue of “Saving Our Environment.”

Guidelines

1. A competition in Manhattan between the Community Boards (12) from July 1^st, 2019 through June 30, 2020.

2. Each quarter, the top 3 ranked Community Boards will be announced.  The Office of the Manhattan Borough President, the Solid Waste Advisory Board, and the winning Community Boards will select participating Paper Challenge and waste reduction, recycling and reuse organizations to award grants. The quarterly awards will be distributed as follows: 1^st Place $5k, 2^nd Place $3k and 3^rd Place $2k, for the greatest increase of paper collected by DSNY per Community Board from the previous year’s quarter.

3. The annual prize awards will be 1^st Place $20k, 2^nd $10k, and 3^rd $5k, for the greatest % increase for the entire year awarded to organizations within the winning Community Boards as outlined. Total Contribution is $75k

Award Presentations

1. Each quarter all groups attend a brief breakfast ceremony in Manhattan, where awards would be distributed.

2. Annual Ceremony Luncheon honoring all.

Note: Prize donations will only be awarded to top 3 Community districts who achieve a positive % increase in each quarter and annual period.