Illinois Recycling & Solid Waste Conference & Trade Show

Agenda

Awards

Illinois Recycling Association
“Excellence in Recycling”
Awards program
Sponsored by
Illinois Dept of Commerce and Economic
Opportunity (DCEO)

Each year, the Illinois Recycling Association recognizes outstanding achievements and contributions in the recycling and waste reduction industry. The Excellence in Recycling Awards are presented at the Illinois Recycling Association’s Annual Meeting, held during the Illinois Recycling and Waste Management Conference & Trade Show June 6-8, 2011, at the Hilton Hotel in downtown Springfield. Nominations are accepted from any IRA member in good standing for consideration by the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee is an ad hoc committee comprised of members of the IRA Board, who serve for a one year, renewable period.

TOP ILLINOIS RECYCLERS RECOGNIZED FOR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY (download the full PDF)

2011 winners of the annual Excellence in Recycling Awards, sponsored by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO), were released today. These awards recognize individuals, companies and nonprofits that have made outstanding achievements and contributions to the recycling and waste reduction industry.

Award winners were announced at the annual Illinois Recycling and Waste Management Conference and Trade show, Destination Sustainability: Greening Illinois Together, Monday, June 6 – Wednesday, June 8, 2011. Funded in part by its sustaining sponsor, the Illinois DCEO, this was a joint conference hosted by the Illinois Recycling Association (IRA), the Illinois Counties Solid Waste Management Association (ILCSWMA), and the Illinois Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (IL SWANA).

"Recycling and waste reduction efforts are often taken for granted and that is unfortunate, as recycling pays big dividends for the Illinois economy. Recycling in this state is responsible for 111,500 direct, indirect and induced jobs and a payroll of $3.6 billion. These awards recognize these contributions to our economy and our environment," said Warren Ribley, Illinois DCEO Director.

“The recipients of our 2011 Excellence in Recycling awards are leading Illinois in innovative recycling and resource reclamation programs,” said Mike Mitchell, Executive Director, IRA. “Their accomplishments set the standards for implementing programs that work and are focused on making a real impact in improving recycling in Illinois.”

Award winners included:

Recycler of the Year: Mel Nickerson, Staff Attorney & Government Relations Specialist, Environmental Law & Policy Center
Nickerson received this award in acknowledgement of his successful lobbying efforts to improve the Electronics Recycling and Reuse Act (recently passed by the state legislature).
Lifetime Achievement Award, Private Sector: Marsha Serlin, Founder & CEO,
United Scrap Metals
Serlin was honored for her thirty-two years of service in the recycling industry during which she built one of the largest industrial recycling companies in the country and contributed significantly to recycling initiatives including the “Pop Tab Collection” program and “Recycling with Ronald” day.
Lifetime Achievement Award, Public Sector: Gary Mielke, Recycling Coordinator, Kane County Environmental Management (KCEM)
Mielke was recognized for developing award-winning recycling programs for residential and commercial recycling, household hazardous waste, electronics, and public education during his 21-year history at KCEM.
Outstanding Business Recycling Waste Reduction Program: Bunn-O-Matic Corporation
Bunn-O-Matic was recognized for its focused efforts to reduce its waste by implementing internal strategies to increase recycling and reclamation, and external opportunities to engage the public.
Outstanding High School: Springfield High School
Springfield High School received recognition for the ongoing efforts of its Environmental Club to collect, sort, wash and prepare 432 gallons of crushed bottles, 750-800 cans, and 1600-1800 pounds of paper/cardboard per month.
Outstanding Recycling Edu. Program of the Year: Ogle County Solid Waste Management
Ogle County Solid Waste Management was acknowledged for its Christmas Tree Recycling Program which operates through seven drop off locations throughout Ogle County and provides volunteer opportunities for local high school students.
Outstanding Sustainable Community Training Program: Springfield Urban League, Inc.
Springfield Urban League, Inc. received this award honoring its Opportunity Green Works Program (OGWP) which partners with YouthBuild to place inner city youth in green collar jobs, and for their role in the development of the Sangamon County Green Coalition.
Best Use of Recycled Material: Alpha Omega Plastics Company
Alpha Omega Plastics Company was honored for its efforts to modernize equipment and expand production capacity resulting in an increased usage of post-industrial plastic waste by 2,660 tons.
Outstanding Corporate Recycling Program: Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc.
Appliance Recycling Centers of America, Inc. received recognition for its outstanding efforts to provide responsible and comprehensive appliance recycling across most of the state of Illinois, recycling more than 15,000 refrigerators and more than 4,800 freezers since January of 2010.
Outstanding Non-Profit Recycling Processors: We Care Recycling
We Care Recycling was acknowledged for its ongoing commitment to providing recycling services to Carlinville and surrounding Macoupin county residents through its collection center, drop-off facilities, multi-commodity trailers and subscription curbside recycling programs which processed an estimated 1700 tons of resources in 2010.
Outstanding Special Recycling Program: Luis Perez, Recycling Coordinator, Macon County Solid Waste Management Department
Perez was honored for his work on developing a variety of special recycling events and programs throughout Macon County, including the large event waste and recycling programs for the Decatur, Illinois and Boone, Iowa Farm Progress Shows.
Outstanding College and University Recycling Program: University of Illinois, Chicago (UIC)
UIC was acknowledged for demonstrating the greatest achievement in both source reduction and recycling among Illinois colleges and universities competing at RecycleMania, earning them the honor of Grand Champion for the state of Illinois.
Outstanding Achievement in RecycleMania National Competition: Augustana College
Augustana College was recognized for its commendable performance in the national competition, placing 1st in Illinois in the Per Capita Challenge, 2nd Nationally in Targeted Material: Paper, and 5th Nationally in Targeted Material: Cans and Bottles.
President’s Award: Dr. Bert Jacobson, Dean, Environment & Institutional Sustainability Planning, Kankakee Community College
Dr. Jacobsen was recognized for his substantial contributions to the development of IRA‟s new Professional Certification Program in Sustainable Resource Management.

Recognition is based on activities or accomplishments completed within the past 18 months, with the exception of the Recycler of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award.

“The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to a person who has dedicated their career or a significant number of years to the recycling industry,” said Angela Harris, Recycling Coordinator, Sangamon County and Chair of the IRA Awards Committee. “We are thrilled to be able to offer not one, but two Lifetime Achievement Awards this year. Both of these individuals have demonstrated the passion and commitment characteristic of outstanding professionals in this industry.”

Winners were selected by an Awards Committee comprised of state leaders in the recycling and sustainability community and members of IRA‟s executive committee including: Angela Harris, Recycling Coordinator, Sangamon County & Chair of IRA Awards Committee Mike Mitchell, Executive Director, IRA Paul Jaquet, President, Eagle Enterprises Recycling, Inc. & President, IRA Board Marta Keane, Recycling Program Specialist, Will County & Vice President, IRA Board Dave Miller, Military Environmental Specialist I & Pollution Prevention Coordinator, Illinois Army National Guard & Secretary, IRA Board Debbie Kendrick-Hopgood, Vice President, Kendrick Paper Stock & Treasurer, IRA Board Wynne Coplea, Manager of Waste & Recycling, City of Springfield & Board Member

Previous winners include: Groot Industries (Elk Grove Village), State Farm Insurance (Bloomington), C&D Recycling (Northbrook), Bob Glavin, Founder, United Recycling Industries (West Chicago).

“We believe it is important to recognize the hard work being done by recycling and sustainability professionals in our state,” said Paul Jaquet, President of Eagle Enterprises Recycling and President of the Board of the IRA. “Recycling and resource reclamation is not a glamorous field, but it is essential if we want to reduce the amount of waste getting dumped into landfills and intelligently manage our resources. By recognizing top performers in the state we want to encourage them to keep up the good work and inspire other individuals and companies to rise to the challenge of reducing, reusing and recycling.”