FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2006
Recycle Guys winners honored
COLUMBIA – Gerald Wilson, solid waste director for Pickens County, was named Recycling Professional of the Year at the 11th annual Recycle Guys Awards Program held Tuesday by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Wilson was honored for his comprehensive work and leadership that increased the county’s recycling rates for glass, paper, metal and plastic as well as its recycling revenue in the 2005 fiscal year.
“Many of South Carolina’s recycling programs compare favorably to those anywhere in the country because of the commitment and dedication of local governments,” said Arthur D. Braswell, director of DHEC’s Division of Mining and Solid Waste Management. “Gerald Wilson epitomizes that commitment and dedication.
“He understands what needs to be done to make recycling work,” Braswell said. “He is always looking to add more services and improve on what already is in place. In particular, he stresses outreach and education as well as partnerships. The results speak for themselves.”
Braswell said recycled plastic in Pickens County increased 286 percent for the year, followed by a 64 percent increase in metal, an 8 percent improvement in glass recycling and a 3 percent increase in paper. Under Wilson’s direction, the county added a construction and demolition debris recycling program, continued to install oil/gasoline recycling tanks at drop-off centers and added a rechargeable battery recycling program at selected drop-off centers.
Sumter County was honored for the fifth straight time as Outstanding Local Government Used Oil Recycling Program. The county, which has one of the state’s most comprehensive used oil recycling programs, recycled 18.9 tons of oil filters for a 28 percent increase from the previous fiscal year, 17.9 tons of oil bottles for a 7 percent increase and 1,986 gallons of oil/gasoline mixture for a 42 percent increase.
Marissa Mitzner of Coastal Carolina University received the Melba McKenzie Volunteer of the Year Award for her work on a campus pilot recycling project in partnership with the city of Conway. Joseph Simmons of Dorchester County was named the Outstanding Staff Member. Simmons, the county’s solid waste supervisor, was recognized for his outstanding support of the recycling staff and volunteer work in the county on recycling projects.
Jane Lawther of Pine Ridge Middle School in Lexington County was named Recycling Teacher of the Year. Lawther was recognized for her long-time commitment to recycling. She developed one of the best school recycling programs in the Midlands and helped set up a comprehensive recycling program for Lexington School District Two. The district’s program accepts paper, newspaper, cardboard, magazines, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and steel cans. Once Lexington Two School District documented its avoided disposal costs, other local districts followed its lead and established recycling programs. Lawther also set up one of the largest school composting programs in the Midlands. The school has won many awards including being recognized by DHEC’s Champions of the Environment program.
Oakview Elementary School of Simpsonville in Greenville County, was honored as the Recycling School of the Year. The school, which began its recycling program in 1997, recycles paper, aluminum cans, grocery bags, six-pack rings, cell phones, tennis shoes, Ni-Cd batteries, ink cartridges as well as composts its cafeteria waste. The school estimates it has recycled more than 14 tons of paper each year and more than 126 tons of paper since 1997. The school, in partnership with the Pelham-Batesville Fire Department, donated more than $7,500 to the Aluminum Cans for Burned Children Program. The school partnered with the Bi-Lo grocery store chain to recycle more than 153,000 grocery bags.
Chakiff Small, an eighth-grader at Bates Middle School in Sumter, was named Recycling Student of the Year. Small is a member of the Science Club’s project for school and community recycling. He volunteers his time to pick up recycling boxes outside offices and classrooms as well as mentors younger members of the team on the school’s recycling program. He promotes recycling by creating posters and recycling commercials on the school’s morning announcements. He developed ideas to reduce paper waste as well as recycle ink cartridges and cell phones. Because of the school’s paper recycling program, the maintenance staff has begun to recycle aluminum cans that resulted in funds to purchase items for the school and support a local charity. Small also volunteers time to pick up litter at a local park.
Clemson University was honored with the Outstanding College or University Waste Reduction/Recycling Program. Clemson increased its paper recycling rate about 30 percent by working in partnership with building maintenance staff.
Others winners include Horry, Sumter and Dillon counties for Outstanding County Waste Reduction/Recycling Program. This award was presented in three categories based on population. The City of Greenville was honored as the Outstanding Municipal Waste Reduction/Recycling Program for large municipalities while the City of Seneca was recognized for small municipalities.
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For more information:
Richard Chesley (803) 896-4209
Eric Melaro (803) 896-4231
Thom Berry (803) 898-3885
E-mail - berrytw@dhec.sc.gov
BNR1676