Mrs. Denholm began her kindergarten teaching career in the mid 1970’s at Clinton Elementary.  Through the years, she has taught hundreds of children to respect the earth through recycling efforts.  She reuses many everyday items in her classroom.  For instance, paint cups and glue dishes may actually be washed yogurt cups.  She continues to reuse some of her own children’s school supplies from many years ago instead of buying new.

Having originated almost 10 years ago, the Stock Pile is the oldest building material reuse program in the Solid Waste District.  Seeking to improve housing conditions in northeast Ohio, staff members and volunteers have carried out partial deconstruction on over one dozen buildings, both commercial and residential, removing gutters, siding, windows, furnaces, cupboards and more.  They have worked with over 150 companies to remove overstock and scratch and dent items from their warehouses and made them available to residents at drastically reduced rates. Since its opening in January 1999, the Stock Pile has diverted over 700 tons of reusable materials from landfills. Accepting the award on behalf of The Stock Pile was Becky Lewis, Manager of The Stock Pile

The M. Conley Company has recycling bins located throughout the company and employees are encouraged to bring their recyclables from home.  There is also a large recycling collection zone in the warehouse.  The company recycles all types of paper, phonebooks, #1 and #2 plastics, plastic grocery bags, cardboard, and electronics.  They have established a refill program for ink cartridges and recycle aluminum cans (with tabs going to the Ronald McDonald House).  In addition, the company has started to donate overstock and used items to local charities and schools.  For example, plastic to-go containers were recently donated to Meals on Wheels of Stark and Wayne Counties, and used three ring binders were sent to Allen Elementary in Canton. Accepting the award on behalf of the M. Conley Company were Kirsten and Michael Conley.

Kathleen’s recycling encompasses nearly every aspect of her life.  She cans garden produce and composts the scraps, with any remaining food being used for her animals.  Unwanted clothing is donated for reuse, resources such as water are conserved and used very wisely, household items are reused and recycled and she is an amazing advocate for litter prevention. Kathleen Ekama could not make it to the awards banquet - accepting on behalf of Kathleen was Regina Segiti and Ramona Pickard.

PAL provides assistance for young ladies who are transitioning from adolescence to adulthood through assisted living.  This is an amazing opportunity for those young women to receive encouragement in education, to learn important life skills such as cooking, cleaning and financial skills and, through volunteering at this store, necessary employment skills as well. Accepting the award on behalf of Bearly Warn Consignment Shop was Midny Parsons and Jamie Thomas.

Mary Demattio, an employee, contacted our office to request a waste audit.  In response to that audit, Mary was able to reduce the size of their waste container and began to have the cardboard separated and collected on a cardboard recycling route.  In addition, the entire staff is participating in an office recycling program, where they are collecting paper, plastic, glass and aluminum.  These items are stored until they can be recycled.  Many of the staff even volunteers to transport those recyclables to a local recycling drop off. Accepting the award for Peterman Plumbing and Heating was Mary Demattio 

Jane has, for years and at her own initiative, collected recyclable materials from dumpsters after sporting events, holiday events – you name it and she’s been there.  When she worked at an animal hospital, Jane began collecting cans for the benefit of the Wayne County Humane Society.  She went to restaurants to pick up cans, personally washed them out, and took them in for recycling.  After she retired, she bought a truck and now collects cans, paper, plastic and glass which she takes to the Wooster College collection site.  She picks up bottles from local bars and boxes from stores.  She even goes through discards from college students and salvages what she can to donate to charities.

Judge Ray Leisy and his wife Allyson have been instrumental in providing recycling at special events in Wayne County.  In 2007, Juvenile Court received a grant from the Wooster Rotary to purchase eight large recycling bins.  The Leisy’s work with Juvenile Probationers to place the bins at public events, collect them after the event, and take the materials to the Leisy’s home where Ray and Allyson personally go through the containers to ensure the recyclables are sorted properly.  This service is provided at no expense to the community and has spared tons of recyclables from ending up in landfills. Accepting the award were Kelly Dillion, Allyson Leisy and Judge Raymond Leisy.

Buehler’s Fresh Foods is actively working to be “greener.”  As a company, they recycle cardboard, plastic, paper, mailing envelopes and pallets.  They also have community containers in the parking lots of four (4) stores that accept newspapers, magazines, plastic bottles, aluminum cans and plastic bags.  They recycle plastic buckets from their central kitchen and have plastic beverage recycle containers at the entrances of all stores.  The latest project involves composting food waste.  Over the years, this program will save hundreds of tons of food from going to landfills. Accepting the award on behalf of Buehler's Fresh Foods is Dave Allen.