| 2004
Recycler of the Year:
Denny Clark
The Recycler of the Year award is given
to an individual in the public or private sector
who has made a significant contribution to the
advancement of integrated solid waste reduction.
For
six years, Denny Clark managed the successful
waste management, reuse and recycling program
at the University of Virginia that his peers
described as being well-managed, well-promoted
and using innovative recycling approaches. His
leadership of such a well-run program exemplified
many of the qualities of “Recycler of
the Year.”
While
negotiating state disposal contracts to save
money for the University he also developed an
effective education program for students that
included a CD of campus recycling information.
In 2003, he coordinated an electronics collection
program as part of the EPA Region III eCycling
project, with tonnages exceeding those of any
of the other EPA Region III collections in Virginia.
Under
Denny’s supervision, UVA had a nationally
recognized America Recycles Day celebration,
won their 4th straight EPA Waste Wise award,
championed the cause of aluminum beverage container
collection, encouraged cooperative ventures
with other institutional programs, increased
program participation, and countless other activities
to further save landfills for future generations
of Virginians.
Denny
was unable to accept his award in person because
he recently resigned from his position at UVA
to take on a new challenge. We wish him success. |
| Outstanding
Municipal Recycling Program:
Newport News Public Works Dept. Recycling Office
In July 2003, the City of Newport News converted
their residential curbside recycling program
to a fully automated program. Each of the City’s
44,500 households was provided a 64-gallon wheeled
cart as part of the new program. After one year,
the Newport News’ waste diversion rate
has increased by 35% equaling almost $75,000
in avoided landfill costs.
Prior
to the change, residents were provided 18-gallon
bins and recyclables were collected manually.
Recognizing growth potential in the curbside
program, the City began researching innovative
ways to increase participation and waste diversion
rates. A six-month pilot program in 2001 tested
the effectiveness of an automated recycling
collection program; residents responded very
favorably.
The
introduction of the news program was coupled
with intensive outreach and education of citizens
to ensure its success. Residents say they find
the wheeled carts more convenient and easier
to use, and the cart capacity allows for more
room for their recyclables. The City views the
growth in waste diversion and participation
rates as a good investment in the environment
and the City’s future.
Dori
Brown, Recycling Coordinator, accepted the award
on the behalf of Newport News Department of
Public Works. |
| Outstanding
Industry Recycling Program:
Ball Corporation
Ball Corporation manufactures aluminum and
steel packaging containers that are 100% recyclable,
making them the most environmentally friendly
packaging available. As an active member in
several industry trade and recycling organizations,
Ball provides funding and leadership in the
development of recycling programs and initiatives.
This company also makes sure that their manufacturing
facilities and corporate offices recycle and
reuse as much as possible by recycling all wood,
plastic, paper, cardboard, office supplies,
cell phones, computer equipment, batteries,
and used oil. Danny Page, Environmental Supervisor,
accepted the award on the behalf of Ball Corporation. |
|
Outstanding
Business Recycling Program:
ERG
ERG’s Arlington, Virginia office established
a green team in the spring of 2002. Since that
time, the members of the green team, who volunteer
their time, have worked to reduce the environmental
impacts of the company’s operations, products,
and services. Recycling computers, composting
food waste, striving to buy environmentally
friendly products, offering commuter incentives
for staff and a philosophy of reusing office
supplies are all things this company’s
employees practice daily. Ron Vance, Senior
Policy Analyst with ERG, accepted the award. |
|
Greenbuilder
of the Year:
Virginia Department of General Services
Faced with crowded landfills, high construction
costs, and environmental concerns the Virginia
Department of General Services (DGS) is leading
the Commonwealth of Virginia’s efforts
in demolition, recycling and construction by
utilizing Green Building practices. Green Building
practices incorporate environmental sensitivities
in the design and construction of new structures
by reusing materials and making new structures
energy efficient.
In
the fall of 2003, DGS began demolishing two
abandoned buildings in downtown Richmond, Virginia.
As in most urban areas parking is scarce and
since these buildings had outlived their useful
life, this site was an ideal location for a
new parking deck.
The
demolition of these two buildings yielded almost
28 million pounds of asphalt, concrete, steel
and debris. The steel, asphalt and other debris
were transported to specialized recycling facilities.
This recycling effort, the first of its kind
in the Commonwealth, resulted in a savings of
more than $485,000.
Bruce
Brooks, Director of Facilities Management for
the Capital Square Complex, and Chihn Vu, Manager
of Security and Special Projects, accepted the
award for DGS.
|
| Outstanding
Government Agency:
Fort Monroe
Fort Monroe is dedicated to effectively
managing its natural environment so that it
is sustainable over time. Residents enjoy the
convenience of a mixed stream curbside recycling
program and may also use the installation’s
recycle center. Administrative buildings on
the installation have community bins collected
by a recycling team and the recycling center
is open to anyone who wishes to participate.
Between these three options, Fort Monroe recycles
white paper, mixed paper, aluminum cans, magazines,
newspaper, cardboard, toner cartridges, plastic
bottles, glass, scrap metal, phonebooks, used
tires and cell phones.
The
installation realizes that success stories and
sharing information is paramount to expanding
recycling efforts throughout Virginia. Fort
Monroe is considered a model installation. A
tremendous amount of effort went into researching
the concept, developing contracts, contacting
avenues to sell or reuse building materials
and locating contractors willing and able to
the work.
Jennifer
Guerrero, Environmental Chief, and Peter Van
Dyke, Recycling Coordinator, accepted the award
on the behalf of Fort Monroe.
|
Outstanding
Non-Profit Organization:
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville
Habitat Store
The Charlottesville Habitat Store opened its
doors on May 31st of 2003 as a retail outlet for
new and salvaged building materials. To date,
they have been able to divert approximately 160
tons of building materials, as well as some furniture,
out of the waste stream and back into the community.
All proceeds from the store contribute to the
construction of local Habitat for Humanity homes.
Store
manager Ryan Jacoby says, “We are doing
significant amounts of public outreach and education
to promote effective solid waste management,
recycling, and reuse practices in Central Virginia.”
The Habitat Store also serves as a model for
other Habitat affiliates throughout Virginia,
which are interested in developing similar stores.
Ryan
accepted the award for the Habitat Store.
|
| Outstanding
Government Agency:
Fort Eustis
Fort Eustis is located on over 8,000 acres
in southern Virginia near Newport News on the
James River, a major tributary of the Chesapeake
Bay. It supports approximately 24,163 military,
civilian workers, and family members. The mission
of Fort Eustis is to train Army personnel in
various tasks such as the maintenance and operation
of helicopters, ocean-going vessels, and land-based
transportation equipment.
Since1999,
Ft. Eustis has followed a plan to manage its
trash, hazardous waste, recycling, yard waste,
affirmative procurement, and pollution prevention
in order to achieve waste minimization. Approximately
260 Activity Environmental Coordinators serve
as recycling coordinators for the base.
In
order to promote recycling and green purchasing
in the community, nearly 60 Fort Eustis soldiers
used recyclables to build a Halloween monster
in observance of America Recycles Day.
Linda Rice, P2 Coordinator, accepted the award
for Fort Eustis. |
| Spotlight
Award:
Fairfax County Employee Recycling Committee
Fairfax County Employee Recycling Committee
is a multi-agency volunteer committee of Fairfax
County employees interested in recycling and
the environment. Today, the ERC is composed
of 16 members from 13 county agencies. ERC membership
has grown by 30% over the last two years alone.
The Committee’s volunteers are committed
to environmental stewardship and have dedicated
their personal time to advancing the cause of
workplace recycling among the County’s
10,000 employees.
ERC
members develop and participate in programs
that raise awareness of environmental and waste
issues among their fellow employees, thereby
enhancing environmental performance throughout
the County government. The committee provides
a forum for employees to address recycling issues
in their buildings with county staff.
Olga
Salazar and Marion Plummer accepted the award
on the behalf of the Employee Recycling Committee.
|
| Spotlight
Award:
City of Newport News Environmental Calendar
In 1999, the City of Newport News Public
Works re-evaluated its long time use of brochures
as a method for outreach. Through a joint partnership
with the city’s Engineering Departments,
the two entities collaborated to create a multi-faceted
calendar that used operational photographs to
illustrate the various facets of public service
performed by the two departments including recycling
and solid waste collection, street sweeping
and Chesapeake Bay preservation activities.
The result was an overwhelming response by both
the public and municipal sector. Residents appreciated
the environmental information provided in a
format that they could hang and use throughout
the year.
Dori
Brown, Recycling Coordinator, accepted the award
for Newport News.
|
Spotlight
Award:
Richmond Clean City Commission
The Richmond Clean City Commission and the
Office of Graphic Communications for the State
of Virginia devised a youth anti-litter/pro-recycling
program that highlights teamwork and environmental
stewardship while having fun. “Score Against
Trash” was presented at a total of 30 parks
and recreation locations as a part of their 2003
and 2004 summer day-camp program.
“Score
Against Trash” teaches 6-12 year olds
the important of picking up trash, telling others
not to litter, and the value of recycling through
games and competitions with prizes and story
telling puppets. The purpose of the program
is to encourage kids to “get in the game”
and keep the city clean. The Clean City Commission
believes this program is reaching the city’s
youth and helping to get them to think about
not littering, but recycling instead.
A
90-minute program lets kids take an oath and
promise to put litter in its proper place, either
a recycling bin or a trashcan. All participants
receive litter/recycling coloring books, crayons,
sun visors, car air-fresheners, and car litterbags.
Billie
Raines, Clean City Coordinator, and Andrew Glen,
Environmental Services Deputy Director, accepted
the award for the Richmond Clean City Commission.
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