Recycling Association of Minnesota awards four recyclers for outstanding efforts

The Recycling Association of Minnesota (RAM), a nonprofit that helps educate Minnesotans on the importance of recycling and waste reduction, announced the winners of four RAM awards.

Winner of the Recycler of the Year Award was given to the Best Buy Corporate Campus in Richfield, Minnesota for their efforts with creating a successful source separated organics (SSO) collection program in the cafeteria as well as providing SSO collection at employee’s workstations. The Recycler of the Year Award is awarded annually to an organization displaying initiative and commitment to recycling; innovation and leadership in recycling and plays an active role in recycling market development or environmentally preferable purchasing.

The Denise Kolar Award was presented to Marcus Zbinden of Carver County Environmental Services for his generous time and effort given to benefit RAM and improving recycling in Minnesota. Zbinden has served on the RAM board of directors, has assisted RAM with numerous volunteer hours, special projects and fundraising efforts.

The third award, the Public Service Award, was given to Ginny Black of the Plymouth City Council for all of her efforts in the city of Plymouth in regards to special waste collection events held annually which collect a wide array of materials such as mattresses, electronic waste, scrap metal, bikes, clothing and fluorescent bulbs. This award recognizes an elected official who has demonstrated outstanding service for the betterment of recycling and the environment. Black is also recognized for her efforts at the MPCA assisting state-created policies and programs to increase composting efforts statewide.

The final award, The Green Project Award, was awarded to the City of Elk River and Elk River Municipal Utilities for their new program, Project Conserve. Project Conserve focuses on resource conservation at the local, individual resident’s level by establishing realistic conservation goals of electric, natural gas, gasoline, water and garbage use.