By Richard Wilhelm

Jul 26, 2016

ASTM Plastics Committee Member Wins Award for Recycling Video

There are many award-winning individuals among ASTM International's members. Those ranks now include at least one Emmy winner, Tim Pratt of Roseville, Minn.

Pratt, communications specialist and recycling coordinator for the city of Roseville, Minn., won an Upper Midwest Emmy Award, one of the top awards in communications, for "Boxes, Bottles and Banana Peels: A Guide to School Recycling," a video he wrote and produced to highlight the successful recycling program at Parkview Center School in Roseville. The video was shot and edited by Ben Hanson of CTV North Suburbs, a local public access television station.

So far, Pratt has been encouraged by how "Boxes, Bottles and Banana Peels" has been received.

"The response has been very positive," says Pratt. "This fall Ramsey County has been working with another Roseville school to implement an enhanced recycling program. The county has also been sharing the video with other school districts."

A television news producer for 10 years before coming to Roseville, Pratt was asked to be the writer and lead producer on the video, which provides an overview of the recycling program that is both entertaining and informative.

The video features a narrator who describes Ramsey County's recycling plan and how Parkview has put that plan into action. Interviews with the school's dean and building engineer emphasize how the program works. Many students also appear, explaining to each other (and us) how the program works.

Students involved in making the video enjoyed the experience and have had fun with the post-production attention they've received.

"The students have been very excited," notes Pratt. "The video is shown at school multiple times each year and they get to see themselves on screen." In addition, the school board honored the student video stars at a recent meeting.

Finalists for the Emmy Award were announced in August, with the winner announced on Sept. 24. The Upper Midwest Regional Emmys is a juried competition featuring programs from broadcast stations and government access channels in Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The video was a joint production of Ramsey County, the city of Roseville, Parkview Center School and CTV North Suburbs.

In addition to Emmy recognition, "Boxes, Bottles and Banana Peels" has won awards from the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, the National Association of Government Communicators and the Minnesota Association of Government Communicators.

Pratt joined ASTM about a year ago and is a member of Committee D20 on Plastics. He is involved with D20.95.01 on SPI Resin Code Section, part of Subcommittee D20.95 on Recycled Plastics.

Pratt hopes the video will encourage other schools to consider recycling.

"Often schools will say they can't implement recycling programs because they believe it will cost them more money," says Pratt. "But this video shows that, if done right, a recycling program can save them money."

Any other Emmy winners out there among ASTM members? Let us know!

"Boxes, Bottles and Banana Peels: A Guide to School Recycling," can be viewed here.