2022 Montgomery County Recycling Achievement Recognition

Watch the Ceremony on YouTube
 

Recycling Groups

• Recycling Group of the Year

Multi-Family Recycling Achievement Awards

• Multi-Family Outstanding Efforts in Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Multi-Family Property Green Team Leader of the Year
• Multi-Family Property Manager of the Year

Non-Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Achievement Awards

• Business - Outstanding Efforts in Waste Reduction and Recycling
• Business - Waste Reduction and Recycling Champion Awards
• Commercial Recycling Partnerships

Recycling Group of the Year

Awarded to volunteer groups that have undertaken exemplary efforts to develop, expand, or enhance waste reduction and recycling programs in their community to further the county’s goal to reduce waste and recycle more, aiming for zero waste. Recognition is based on their engagement to grow participation in existing programs provided by DEP’s Recycling and Resource Management Division – Waste Reduction and Recycling Section.

GO Green Earth

GO Green Earth is a newly formed community group that connects Chinese American residents living in single-family homes to resources provided by DEP/Waste Reduction and Recycling staff to increase their waste reduction and recycling efforts.  During the past year, GO Green Earth has enrolled over 100 county residents to participate in DEP’s backyard food scraps composting project, testing two types of backyard compost bins for recycling food scraps.  In addition, group members translated educational materials and interpreted presentations into Mandarin, hosted numerous backyard composting training workshops, provided troubleshooting, and conducted further education through their WeChat group.

Multi-Family Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards

Outstanding Efforts in Waste Reduction and Recycling

Awarded to multi-family properties that have undertaken exemplary efforts to develop, expand, or enhance their waste reduction and recycling programs. For this and all of the following award categories, information obtained is based upon interactions with DEP/Waste Reduction and Recycling staff.

Fairmont Plaza Condominium

The Fairmont Plaza Condominium in Bethesda has gone above and beyond the County’s recycling requirements and provides opportunities for their residents to recycle additional type of materials, including batteries, cellphones, and light bulbs/tubes.  Providing recycling collection containers for residents to recycle these materials reduces the amount of waste disposed.  In 2021, residents recycled over 150 batteries and 30 cell phones. Property staff also provide notices and flyers about the property’s trash and recycling program to residents throughout the building to motivate and encourage residents to recycle more and recycle right.

Grosvenor Park I

At Grosvenor Park I Condominium in North Bethesda, property management and green team members work collaboratively to implement initiatives for residents to reduce waste and recycle more. Staff and green team members meet regularly to provide recycling information to residents, ensure that all recycling collection areas are well labeled and accessible, and that residents have opportunities to recycle many different types of harder to recycle items. The community’s commitment to waste reduction can be seen in property management’s use of an electronic listserv to minimize paper usage, resident’s use of electronic posts to exchange, resell or donate household furniture and appliances, an on-site library where residents can donate books, and an on-site clothing and shoe donation box to divert gently used items from entering the waste stream. The property also provides residents the ability to recycle batteries and light bulbs. Additionally, in 2021, the community implemented a food scraps recycling program for residents to recycle food scraps.  Reducing waste, reusing materials, and recycling more is part of the very fabric of their community to aim towards zero waste.

Kenwood House Cooperative

The Green Committee and management staff at Kenwood House in Chevy Chase have worked together to create a convenient recycling program for their residents.  In addition to recycling the required recyclable materials, Kenwood House has implemented a food scraps recycling program for residents and donates working appliances to various charitable organizations. Through these efforts, Kenwood House achieved an impressive 81.2% recycling rate in 2021. 

 

Multi-Family Property - Green Team Leader of the Year

Awarded to individuals who made a positive difference in their multi-family communities to keep Montgomery County clean, green, and beautiful. These individuals go above and beyond the efforts of others to maintain the quality of life in their multi-family communities, working diligently to engage others to actively participate in their waste reduction, reuse, and recycling efforts. These individuals serve as examples for others to emulate. 

Joyce Siegel - The Forum Condominium

Ms. Joyce Siegel is a member of the Board of Directors at The Forum Condominium in North Bethesda and has been instrumental in the implementation of several green initiatives at the community.  One area of focus for Joyce has been on reducing the amount of food scraps thrown in the property’s trash container.  For several years, Joyce was so committed to recycling food scraps that she took her food scraps directly to a local store where customers can drop off food scraps for composting.  Realizing the importance of getting residents to recycle food scraps, especially residents who cannot easily transport their own food scraps to a local store, Ms. Seigel worked with us, the management staff and board members to implement a food scraps recycling program at The Forum Condominium.  Thank you, Joyce, for your passion and commitment to our environment.

Sandra Sugar - The Promenade

Ms. Sandra Sugar is the chair of the Eco-Action club at The Promenade in Bethesda, which is working to make our planet cleaner. Ms. Sugar has been instrumental in making sure that all 36 floors of this high-rise multi-family community have updated educational signage to provide residents with correct information about recycling as well as environmental messages on monitors in all common areas. Sandra also organizes educational events for residents to increase resident awareness and participation in the property’s recycling program. Sandra coordinates Earth Day education events for residents as well as trips to the Montgomery County Recycling Center, where residents can see how recyclable materials are sorted and prepared for recycling. 

Multi-Family – Property Manager of the Year

Awarded to multi-family property management staff that have undertaken exemplary efforts to develop, expand, or enhance their waste reduction and recycling programs. 

Tammy MacLaren - Normandie on the Lake I

Ms. Tammy MacLaren, Property Manager of Normandie on the Lake I in Montgomery Village, works diligently to ensure that as many items as possible are diverted from the waste stream and repurposed and used again. Ms. MacLaren provides residents with a listing of local organizations where residents can donate items that are no longer needed. Extra paint is donated to local high school theater clubs, and books and clothing are donated to reuse organizations. To increase resident awareness and participation in the property’s recycling program, Tammy created a color-coded system for recycling and trash containers to help residents use the appropriate container. Congratulations to Tammy for providing enduring education to her residents.

Non-Residential Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards

Business - Outstanding Efforts in Waste Reduction and Recycling

Awarded to businesses that have undertaken exemplary efforts to develop, expand, or enhance their waste reduction and recycling programs. 

Leidos

Leidos promotes environmental stewardship as a key element of corporate responsibility, contributing to the environmental well-being of the communities where they are located. Their policy on Environmental Health and Safety expresses their commitment to minimizing environmental impacts arising from their business activities.  Leidos has implemented numerous environmental initiatives including setting up a food scraps recycling program for employees.  Leidos encourages employees to reduce the amount of waste generated by using reusable utensils, coffee mugs and beverage cups. Due to COVID-19, Leidos had to switch to individual packaged utensils and cups, but they ensured that these items are all acceptable for composting in their food scraps recycling program.  To further reduce waste, Leidos implemented an initiative to centralize the management of all printers, copiers, scanners, and fax machines with one preferred vendor that specializes in document management. Leidos has a commitment to reduce waste by 50% by 2030.  They are well on their way on their efforts to reduce waste.

Leveling The Playing Field

Leveling The Playing Field, located in Silver Spring, is a non-profit organization working to promote best life-cycle use of sports equipment by collecting new and gently used sports and playground equipment and redistributing it to schools, youth, and other community programs, committed to providing an affordable and accessible option to under-resourced students and families in the area. During COVID-19, the organizations helped prevent a significant amount of used sports equipment from entering the waste stream by redistributing them as “sports kits” to low- and medium-income students and families so they could better participate in youth virtual physical education initiatives. Leveling The Playing Field is applauded for their time, effort, and commitment to enhancing awareness and civic engagement around reuse in our community.

Phoenix Computers

Phoenix Computers is a volunteer run non-profit organization in Rockville that accepts donation of new and used computers, equipment and software for repair, refurbishing, and upgrade to then redistribute at low cost to low-income individuals and families and individuals with disabilities. By accepting donations of electronics, the organization works closely with its community partners, non-profits, educational, religious based and charitable organizations to give old electronics new life, keep it out of the waste stream and into the hands of those that might not otherwise have access. The organization helps to further enhance electronic environmental stewardship and bridge the technological divide by providing volunteers with hands on knowledge in refurbishing computers, hard drive wiping, and monitor testing. On-site volunteers, many of whom are local students and veterans, are committed to waste reduction by making sure that anything that cannot be repaired, refurbished, or resold is properly recycled.

Radio Communications Services Division of Montgomery County’s Technology and Business Solutions Department, Montgomery County, MD

In 2021, The Radio Communications Services (RCS) Division of Montgomery County’s Technology and Business Solutions Department (TEBS) was tasked with managing a major upgrade project for the division’s 20-year-old communications infrastructure to enhance efficiency during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through their initiative, communication, and drive, the team successfully donated reusable communications equipment to various local county governments and transit authorities in need, recycled over two (2) tons of scrap metal and electronic equipment and recycled 3,400 pounds of battery equipment.  The Radio Communication Services Division’s commitment to waste reduction and recycling is truly an asset to the County’s efforts to divert more materials from the waste stream to keep our land, air, and water clean.

sweetgreen Pike & Rose

sweetgreen Pike & Rose in Rockville, has been a leader in sustainability in the food service industry since the company’s inception in 2007.  sweetgreen implemented a food scraps recycling program for food scraps as well as for compostable food service ware items.  Customers have easy-to-use access to compost any remaining food items, along with food service ware packaging and straws.  Through their efforts, sweetgreen promotes zero waste when eating out, in line with the County’s efforts to achieve zero waste.  

Takoma Park Child Development Center

Takoma Park Child Development Center in Takoma Park is dedicated to creating a supportive environment where children can learn to be cooperative and positive community members. In addition to developing the minds of children, they are committed to the promise of a bright future for our younger generations. Despite the challenges of COVID-19, the students and teachers remained vigilant through the past few years working to recycle as many materials as possible, including bulky rigid plastic toys and equipment.  Takoma Park Child Development Center goes above and beyond and will only continue to grow.

 

Business - Waste Reduction and Recycling Champion Awards

Awarded to individuals who made a positive difference in their workplace to keep our land, air, and water clean. These individuals go above and beyond the efforts of others to maintain a healthy environment in their workplace working diligently to engage others to actively participate in their waste reduction and recycling efforts.  These individuals serve as examples for others to emulate. 

Amanda Dwyer 

Ms. Amanda Dwyer’s heart bleeds green and blue. Ms. Dwyer works for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in Silver Spring, as a Grants Management Specialist in the Marine Debris Department.  In 2021, Ms. Dwyer humbly took on the added responsibility to personally oversee NOAA’s building renovation disposal, donation, and recycling efforts. Ms. Dwyer coordinated efforts to ensure that all office supplies were properly recycled and organized the dissemination of information amongst multiple departments, leaving no waste stream unturned. She is thoroughly devoted to sustainability and continues to focus efforts on all aspects of recycling. 

Aretha Orton 

As the property manager for Washington Property Company, LLC., Ms. Aretha Orton works diligently to improve the recycling programs for several office buildings in Montgomery County. Ms. Orton actively communicates new and exciting recycling updates to her tenants to make sure that everyone knows how to recycle and recycle right. By constantly monitoring the on-site recycling programs at these commercial properties, she provides site-specific suggestions to each commercial property she oversees so that they continue to improve their recycling efforts and recycle right.  This effort includes posting updated information and signage to increase employee awareness about the property’s recycling and waste reduction programs.

Commercial Recycling Partnerships