Joel Ostroff
Macon County, NC

Ed Hurley Memorial Paper Recycling Award

Mr. Joel Ostroff has more than 10 years of experience in recycling. In 1990, with the assistance of a part-time instructor, Mr. Ostroff organized and established the Terraphile Society at Brevard Community College.  The student-based environmental organization was so successful that by 1993 the College was recycling 10,000 pounds of newspapers and almost 5,000 pounds of office paper each month.  The Terraphile Society also became actively engaged in public education and outreach.  As a result of its college-wide efforts, the Terraphile Society became the most successful collegiate environmental group in Florida, winning awards from the State of Florida Education Department, numerous environmental groups and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WasteWise program.
  
After his retirement from Brevard Community College, Mr. Ostroff began his career as Macon County’s Recycling Coordinator. In the five years he has served in this position the paper recycling rate has increased by approximately 35 percent.    He has enrolled the five largest schools in the county in a paper recycling program, and plans to incorporate the remaining schools in 2006.  Working with local volunteer agencies and the Job Corps, he annually holds an educational fair and a poster contest to emphasize the importance of paper recycling.

AF&PA is proud to recognize Mr. Joel Ostroff as the 2006 Ed Hurley Memorial Paper Recycling Award recipient.  For more information on Mr. Ostroff and Macon County’s recycling program, please visit www.maconnc.org.

Ed Hurley

To learn more about Ed Hurley for whom the individual recycling award is named, click on any of the links below to view a video tribute.

Learn more about Ed Hurley's positive impact on paper recycling, by watching this short video. High Speed Connection Windows Media Player | Real Player Low Speed Connection Windows Media Player | Real Player

Bluegrass Regional Recycling Corporation
Richmond, KY

Small Business

The Bluegrass Regional Recycling Corporation (BRRC) is a statewide, nonprofit agency dedicated to training and educating the general public and local governments on recycling.  The program functions as a cooperative and allows rural communities to recycle materials that otherwise would not have the volume to initiate a cost-effective program. In 2005 the BRRC collected more than 18,000 tons of paper for recycling.

The BRRC utilizes inmate labor at their processing center and satellite recycling centers.  In 1998 the BRRC began a Career Development Program that uses recyclable materials as a resource for on-the-job training for the inmate workforce.  In exchange for their labor the inmates are given training and certifications that often result in job placements after their release. 

Brewer Science, Inc.
Rolla, MO

Large Business

In April 2002, Brewer Science’s management decided to significantly expand their recycling efforts.  After a very successful pilot program, desk-side recycling and Recycling Centers were introduced company-wide.  As a result, more than 15 tons of paper and 55 tons of cardboard were recovered for recycling in 2005.  The most recent audit validates the program: less than 10 percent of the company's garbage consists of recyclable materials. The cost of waste disposal per employee has dropped 32 percent since the inception of the program.

Brewer Science has shared their recycling program with the local community by making presentations at the local Chamber of Commerce, hospital and schools.  A strong alliance has been built between Brewer Science and the University of Missouri-Rolla through cooperative recycling efforts.  Each year they work together to host Earth Day activities for the community with a focus on resource recycling and responsible consumption of resources.

City of Northfield, MN

Small Community

The City of Northfield, Minnesota, identified an opportunity to increase the amount and types of paper products recovered for recycling.  The Youth Recycling Green Team Project was initiated to collect mixed paper and cardboard and to engage the city’s youth organizations in a “hands-on” recycling education project.  In the program, youth organizations including the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H clubs, athletic and music clubs and church groups compete for the distinction of becoming a Youth Recycling Green Team.  The Teams learn about recycling, share that knowledge with others and earn money for their respective organizations.  In 2005, 524 tons were recovered through the Youth Recycling Drop-Box Program—the largest amount so far in a single year.   Since September 2001, more than $25,000 has been donated to 31 youth organizations as a direct result of the program. 

AF&PA is proud to recognize the City of Northfield, Minnesota with the 2006 AF&PA Community Recycling Award in the small community category.  To learn more about the Youth Recycling Green Team Project in the City of Northfield, please visit www.ci.northfield.mn.us.

City of Seattle, WA

Large Community

Although curbside recycling has been available in the City of Seattle, Washington, since 1998, recovery rates were in a decline.  As a result, the City passed an ordinance in 2003 that prohibits recyclables from residential and commercial garbage and launched a massive education campaign to promote it.  Through the use of a variety of media including print, radio and TV, awareness of the recycling ordinance has increased by 50 percent and overall support of Seattle’s recycling regulations has grown to 82 percent. Seattle’s overall garbage tonnage in 2005 was the lowest in 10 years, despite population growth.

In 2005, the City’s residential recycling program saved $4.4 million by collecting and selling more than 160 million pounds of recyclables to markets throughout the U.S. and the Pacific Rim.

AF&PA is proud to recognize the City of Seattle, Washington, with the 2006 AF&PA Community Recycling Award in the large community category.  To learn more about the City of Seattle’s recycling program, please visit www.seattle.gov/util.

Heber Springs High School
Heber Springs, AR

Classroom

Ms. Avil Snow’s My Work Place Readiness Class is designed to help students develop skills in solving problems, teamwork, and self-management.  When the class decided to create a recycling program as an assignment, they went all out.  After touring a local recycling center, they worked with the custodial staff and all the K-12 teachers in the school to recover paper for recycling. 

In nine weeks the students collected 1200 pounds of paper.  Through classroom activities designed for students of all ages, participants educated fellow students and teachers on the benefits of paper recycling.  Building on the successful start, students are now considering efforts to further brand the program; add curriculum components for educators; and expand collection so that families can use the school as a drop-off center for their newspapers and magazines.

Congratulations to Ms. Snow’s class for earning the 2006 AF&PA School Recycling Award in the classroom category.  For additional information on Heber Springs High School, please visit http://www. hssdweb.afsc.k12.ar.us/High%20School%20Web/index.htm.

Mountain Home High School
Mountain Home, AR

School-wide

The Mountain Home High School set out to create a recycling program with ambitious goals: promote the conservation of natural resources; educate students about what can be recycled; have students benefit from having a direct and positive effect on the community; encourage students to grow into adults who understand the culture of recycling; and team students of different abilities to create inclusion for special education students and allow them to learn how to work successfully in a group. 

Not only have they achieved their primary objectives, they have also learned a great deal and had some fun in the process.  The pay-off - more than 6 million tons of paper recovered for recycling during the 2004/2005 school year.  With a little grant money from the Keep America Beautiful Foundation and the support of the school administration and community, the program has fast become a model of success.

Congratulations to the Mountain Home High School for earning the 2006 AF&PA School Recycling Award in the school-wide category. For additional information on Mountain Home High School’s recycling program, please visit http://www.bombers.k12.ar.us/hs/index.html.

University of Colorado at Boulder
Boulder, CO

College and University

Established in 1976, the University of Colorado’s recycling program, CU Recycling, has become one of the leading campus recycling programs in the country.  The program’s mission is to divert recyclables from the waste stream cost-effectively while promoting the benefits of recycling and resource conservation and providing opportunities for meaningful student involvement.  Through the development of several teams, CU Recycling educates students, educators and custodial staff and executes programs that include America Recycles Day, RecycleMania Move In and Move Out and Green Teams.

The results are impressive.  In 2004, more than 1,100 tons of paper were recovered – 93 percent of total recyclables.  Further, during campus move-in, CU Boulder recovered 35,880 pounds of cardboard – more than an 80 percent recovery rate.  Thanks to continuing outreach and education efforts, the program is paying off. 

AF&PA is proud to recognize the University of Colorado at Boulder as the 2006 AF&PA School Recycling Award winner in the college and university category.  For additional details about CU Recycling, please visit http://recycling.colorado.edu.

University of Oregon
Eugene, OR

College and University

The University of Oregon’s Recycling Program is a student-initiated and run organization.  The comprehensive program includes education and outreach to all of the 24,000 members of the campus community.  Through extensive tracking of specific materials, the University of Oregon reports they have recovered more than 9,000 tons of paper, resulting in a cost savings of more than $2 million.

More than 40 types of materials are recycled or reused and source separated on campus, and revenues help to augment the program.  Through committees, professional memberships, partnerships and networking, their program extends into the greater community working with local, regional and international efforts on waste management.  The program strives to model excellence in environmental stewardship and to stimulate campus and community sustainable practices.

AF&PA is proud to recognize the University of Oregon with the 2006 AF&PA School Recycling Award in the college and university category.  For more information on the University of Oregon’s recycling program, please visit www.uoregon.edu/~recycle.