MGM Resorts International

Business Leadership Recycling Award

One of the world's leading global hospitality companies, MGM Resorts International operates a portfolio of destination resort brands including Bellagio, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and The Mirage. Proving that luxury and sustainability can co-exist, the corporation's 60,000 employees recovered 10,913 tons of paper and paper-based packaging from their operations in 2010.

Part of MGM Resorts' philosophy of Conserve Today, Protect Tomorrow, paper recovery is a key element of a strategic approach to sustainability. Leading the way among resorts, casinos, and hospitality companies in Las Vegas, MGM Resorts has implemented an infrastructure to recover office paper, in-room phone books, and virtually all the corrugated (8,403 tons) across its operations. In addition, contracted recycling labor works 24 hours per day at each resort's loading dock to sort and separate paper, cardboard, and mixed recyclables.

Onondaga County, New York

Community Recycling Award

Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency (OCRRA) is a non-profit public benefit corporation that has successfully managed Onondaga County (NY) solid waste programs for the last 20 years. A comprehensive education and outreach program has helped the 450,000-member community achieve new heights in recycling, including the recovery of 165,000 tons of paper and paper-based packaging in 2010.

Curbside collection, drop-off locations, annual "Shred-O-Rama" and book recycling events are all staples of the OCRRA paper recovery program. Further contributing to the success is comprehensive outreach and education, including multi-media advertising, newsletters, emails, and Facebook fan page updates.

Recovering more per capita than any other large community in New York, OCRRA relies on engagement with businesses, schools, and apartment complexes to achieve outstanding levels of community-wide recycling.

Purdy High School, Missouri

School Recycling Award

The Purdy High School recycling program in Southwest Missouri was initiated in 2005, with a dual goal of providing a service to the community and raising funds for the Spanish Club. Just five years later, this self-sustaining program successfully recovered 26 tons of paper - 77 pounds per student - while providing rigorous academic integration and education for the community at large.

Before their third anniversary Purdy High had constructed a new collection and processing facility and published a book called Bringing it Back Around, detailing how to build a similar program. Students ranging from 5th - 12th grades are provided with hands-on environmental education by participating in what remains an all-volunteer program administered by the Spanish Club.

Starting with middle school students, the program seeks to train students who in turn teach their families about the value of recyclables and the environment.

Giant Eagle

Business Leadership Recycling Award

Through its headquarters, supermarkets, fuel stations, and retail support centers, Giant Eagle recovered nearly 555 tons of mixed office paper and 42,000 tons of old corrugated containers (OCC) in 2008. Contributing to this effort in Giant Eagle’s corporately owned supermarkets was the company’s Utility and Recycling Initiative, created to engage and educate employees on increasing recycling volume and reducing energy use.

Started as an OCC collection effort in 1972, the paper recycling program now includes education and outreach efforts such as signage, outreach to employees via the company intranet, and enlisting employees to track and support the program monthly.

Providing further support, Giant Eagle has built long-term partnerships with its service vendors and with professional recycling organizations including the Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania. Team member feedback, easily-accessible materials and resources, and corporate support have all been crucial to the growth and success of the program.

Orange County, North Carolina

Community Recycling Award

In 2008 the 128,000 residents of Orange County, North Carolina recovered approximately 8,750 tons of paper thanks to education and outreach combined with successful efforts to make recycling more accessible to residents. The county recycling program includes weekly curbside collection in urban areas; biweekly curbside for rural locations, multi-family units, drop-off sites, and government buildings; plus collection from city buses and “park and ride” locations. County officials also offer technical assistance to businesses, churches, schools, and clubs interested in developing paper recycling programs.

Education about the program happens through a variety of print, audio, and online media in Orange County.  Recycling officials attend local fairs and festivals and provide demonstrations to schools, businesses, and community groups on request.

Partnerships with the local chamber of commerce help to promote small business recycling, and the “Shred-a-thon” program initiated with the local police and sheriff’s departments has yielded impressive results.  The most recent Shred-a-thon event resulted in more than seven tons of paper provided by 300 residents. 

The program’s cost-effectiveness is measured by monthly curbside and drop-off recycling tonnages and an annual analysis is conducted to determine the cost per ton and per household.

To learn more about Orange County’s recycling program, visit www.co.orange.nc.us/recycling.

Wake County Government School

School Recycling Award

The Department of Environmental Services of Wake County, North Carolina’s Government School Recycling Program serves more than 135,000 students in 152 schools. The program provides recycling bins for classrooms and offices and roll carts for the schools. Participants recover a variety of products including office paper, notebook paper, brochures, direct mail, magazines, and newspapers. An impressive 800 tons of paper were collected during the 2007-2008 school year.

Student participation and education are given the same level of importance as logistics. FTB provides a learning opportunity for students, who take responsibility for the paper collection from their classrooms and facilities. Supporting the effort are three full-time educators who make presentations at elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the district.

As a direct result of the FTB program, the county saved nearly $240,000 last year, allowing them to hire staff and develop age-appropriate educational materials.

For more information on the Wake County's FEED THE BIN program, visit www.wakegov.com/recycling/schools.

Stanford University

College/University Recycling Award

Stanford University’s recycling program began in the late 1970s as a student project. It has grown significantly, with nearly 3,000 tons of paper recovered for recycling by the 17,000-strong student population in 2008. Also impressive, campus efforts resulted in an overall 64 percent diversion rate in the same year. Included in the program are mixed paper, magazines, newspapers, paperboard, and corrugated (cardboard) containers.

The university’s waste hauler hires student interns and partners with student organizations to educate the campus community through online outreach, promotional materials, and personal contact. To further increase visibility, the university participates in Resource Awareness Week, Earth Week, and the National Recycling Coalition’s RecycleMania contest. On-campus support is also provided to dorms and academic departments through staff presentations.

As a result of successful communication and outreach, participation and collection helped the university avoid more than $130,000 in landfill fees in 2008.

For more information on Stanford University’s recycling program, visit http://recycling.stanford.edu/.

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