Portland-based recycling and waste manager to celebrate leaders in sustainability from across Maine.
PORTLAND, Maine (November 10, 2023) – Maine Recycles Week is swiftly approaching, and ecomaine, the state’s pioneer in single-sort recycling and sustainable waste management, has launched its call for nominations for the 2024 Eco-Excellence Awards. These awards are meant to acknowledge and honor recycling, sustainability, and waste diversion advocates in Maine who are spearheading more sustainable models of living in their communities.
ecomaine, Maine’s leading provider of waste-to-energy and single-sort recycling, is thrilled to announce that nominations are open until Friday, January 17th, 2024. Nominees may live or work in any of its member communities, making this an incredible opportunity for many individuals, business, and groups alike.
Caleb Hemphill, Chair of ecomaine’s Outreach & Recycling Committee said, “I am continually impressed by the efforts of our community members in the fields of sustainability and waste reduction. These awards allow us an opportunity to recognize individuals who are working to make Maine a more sustainable place.”
Nominees must be located in or serve one of 73 ecomaine communities. Nominees can be businesses, schools, nonprofits, municipalities or staff, or individuals and will be selected based on the effectiveness, increased awareness, community impact, and ease of replication of their sustainability programs or initiatives. Preference will be given to nominees in the areas of sustainable waste management, recycling, composting, etc. Submissions will be judged by ecomaine’s Outreach & Recycling Committee and awarded on January 17th, 2024.
The 2023 eco-Excellence Awards were given to:
- Kathleen Athearn, Westbrook (Individual) – for her work cleaning up litter and promoting proper waste management on social media.
- Rebecca Brown, Portland (Individual) – for her efforts to divert waste from the trash at Maine Medical Center and recycle and reuse it.
- David Ertz, Yarmouth (Individual) – for his work on sustainability as part of the Town of Yarmouth’s Committee for Energy Efficiency and Sustainability.
- Noah Perlut, Scarborough (Individual) – for his commitment to conservation of land and resources on a number of boards and commissions in Scarborough.
- Jeff Tarling, Portland (Individual) – for his efforts, over his career as the City of Portland’s Arborist, to promote sustainability and encourage it with area students.
- Grady’s Motel, Bridgton (Business) – for their efforts to become a zero emissions motel and dedication to waste diversion.
- MaineHealth Sustainability Committee, Portland (Business) – for incorporation of environmental and sustainability strategies in energy, waste, water, food, and transportation into its strategic plan.
- Tanbark, Portland (Business) – for blazing a trail in non-plastic packaging with molded fiber that is lightweight and has potential for disrupting plastic use through innovation of a legacy Maine industry – paper.
- Intercultural Community Center, Westbrook (Non-Profit) – for its commitment to waste diversion through recycling and composting programs, reduction of single-use materials, and increasing public awareness of sustainability.
- Gorham School District (Education/Schools) – for leadership in keeping recoverable materials out of landfills by recycling and composting, and notably, diverting leftover food to the Gorham Food Pantry and food drives.
- Heather Keegan, Readfield (Education/Schools) – for her work with school leadership, town staff, ecomaine, and her students to establish a recycling program that can be replicated throughout the district.
- Spruce Mountain HS Envirothon Team, Livermore Falls (Education/Schools) – for their exemplary research and presentations on sustainable waste management, resulting in winning the Maine Envirothon and placing 20th in the world at the International Envirothon.
Click the link below to apply or nominate someone you believe is committed to sustainability!
