Tricon’s Project Zero social investment program aims to support schools and communities on the journey to zero waste, zero emissions, and zero inequality. As part of that commitment, Tricon worked closely with the Houston Independent School District (HISD) to develop a program that would expand recycling access and education in schools. Tricon contributed $100,000 to the HISD Foundation and supported the initial program development, alongside partners in the Alliance to End Plastic Waste and Houston Recycling Collaboration.
ExxonMobil, LyondellBasell and Tricon Energy donated a total of $300,000 to support development of the program, which is scheduled to begin in April at 20 school campuses, with plans to scale to additional schools across the district.
“Introducing this new initiative in HISD schools has become more important than ever as we look to engage our students around innovative solutions to achieving sustainability,” said HISD Superintendent Millard House II. “We are confident that the involvement of our students in this program will continue to build ingenuity that supports Houston’s local economy and job creation for our future leaders.”
“Our children will inherit the world we build for them, so it is key that they understand the value of recycling and the circular economy as early as possible,” said Mayor Sylvester Turner of the City of Houston. “I commend HISD and its partners for embarking on such an ambitious program, driven by the need to address waste and landfill use today to enable a more sustainable future.”
The participating HISD schools will collect cardboard, paper and a variety of plastics, including difficult-to-recycle plastics, from chip bags to takeout containers, with the plastics collection coordinated by Cyclyx’s all-plastic 10 to 90 program. The initiative will also support recycling training, education, and awareness for HISD staff and students.
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