2005 - 2006 Award Winners

The business recycler of the year is Portion Pac Inc. (PPI). Portion Pac produces salad dressings, sauces, and dry mix batters for the wholesale marketplace. PPI is dedicated to recycling and waste reduction in the workplace by way of an Environmental Management System Committee, general awareness, and targeted documentation. PPI is a Tennessee Pollution Prevention member and proudly achieved Partnership recognition in January 2005. PPI reduced waste by switching product containers of pickle relish from 55 gallon disposable drums to bulk reusable totes. This switch yielded a $5,700 savings in landfill avoidance and process changes. PPI installed a silver recovery system to reclaim silver from silver nitrate solution. The elimination of hazardous waste through recycling has resulted in a facility cost savings of $11,000 per year. PPI also implemented a cardboard recycling program which diverts 205 tons of cardboard from a landfill. Portion Pac Inc. demonstrates how recycling and pollution prevention is also cost effective means of waste management.

The government recycling award was earned by Warrior’s Path State Park Golf Course. This course, designed by George Cobb, is one of the most popular courses in the Tennessee State Parks system. It hosts approximately 35,000 rounds of golf per year. The recycling program began in 2003 under the direction of Mark Houser. The primary commodities recycled are plastic bottles and cardboard, although a small amount of aluminum is collected and donated to a local church or non-profit organization. In 2005, 4,000 pounds of cardboard and 2,500 pounds of plastics were recycled. The Tri-Cities area was recently ranked by Golf Digest as the second best golfing area in the country allowing Warrior’s Path State Park Golf Course to demonstrate Tennessee’s commitment to conservation to local residents and visitors alike.

Johnnie Edwards received the individual recycler of the year award. Mr. Edwards is a volunteer for the Lincoln County Keep Tennessee Beautiful Affiliate. Every school day, he transports paper, cardboard, and plastic from Flintville Middle School to the Fayetteville Recycling Center. Mr. Edwards does not receive compensation for his duties; he performs them gladly to benefit his community and his environment. Mr. Edwards also picks up cardboard from local retail businesses and operates the cardboard compactor saving time and labor for Lincoln County. His actions serve as shining examples of environmental stewardship.

The non-profit recycler of the year was awarded to UT Recycles, UT Cares. Sarah Surak directs this program which collects unwanted clothing, non-perishable food, and household items from over 4,000 dorm residents. Items collected are donated to Goodwill, Second Harvest, and the Love Kitchen. In the past two years, over 10 tons of material have found a second home through UT Recycles, UT Cares.

Award Category

Judging Criteria

Government Recycler of the Year Award

Presented to a local, regional or state governmental agency, which has instituted comprehensive waste prevention and recycling programs.

• Involves an extensive or unique population base in the program.
• Achieves significant waste stream diversion and/or diversion of newly marketable materials.
• Describes practical and successful program methodologies for collection.
• Demonstrates ability of program to be modeled in other communities.

Non-Profit Recycler of the Year Award

Presented to a nonprofit organization; such as an environmental group, university, church, or hospital, that has had significant impact in its community through leadership and program development.

• Impacts waste diversion in the community.
• Describes marketing success or recyclables, material diversion, or other unique program attributes to capture recyclable materials.
• Shows educational success of a program.
• Demonstrates ability of program to be modeled in other communities.

Business Recycler of the Year Award

Presented to a business that practices outstanding leadership in waste prevention and recycling in their region or field.

• Describes comprehensiveness of recycling and waste prevention.
• Shows volume of material recycled and types of recyclable waste streams captured.

School (K-12) Recycler of the Year Award

Presented to a school that has established a comprehensive system of waste prevention, recycling, and other environmental programs.

• Describes practical and successful program methodology
• Demonstrates ability of programs to be modeled by other schools.
• Shows educational components of the program and the success derived from educational efforts.

Individual Recycler of the Year Award

Presented to an individual that practices outstanding leadership in waste prevention and recycling in their region or field.

• Demonstrates success of waste prevention/recycling efforts, in terms of numbers of people affected, tonnage diverted, new programs initiated and other measures.
• Illustrates positive impact individually has had on his/her community, institution or field.