COLUMBUS, OH -- More than 50 agencies, organizations, businesses and individual volunteers from across Ohio were honored on April 5 for their local efforts in recycling, waste reduction and litter prevention at the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' eighth annual Take Pride, Ohio! Awards ceremony in Columbus.
The ODNR Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention recognized outstanding achievement in two categories: innovative recycling and outstanding litter prevention. Recycle, Ohio! Awards honored innovative recycling efforts. Clean Up, Ohio! Awards recognized litter prevention programs that benefit Ohio communities.
The division also recognized 12 student winners of its tenth annual Earth Day to Earth Day Poster Contest. In addition, more than 30 organizations and businesses that assisted ODNR in promoting recycling and litter prevention during the past year received Achievements in Excellence Awards.
"This annual awards program allows the division to recognize Ohio's best in recycling and litter prevention," said Michael Canfield, chief of the Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention. "This year's award recipients reflect the high quality and level of commitment of Ohio's many recycling and litter prevention programs."
Samuel W. Speck, ODNR director, and Will Ferretti, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition, were guest speakers at the awards ceremony.
EDITORS NOTE: ATTACHED IS A COMPLETE LISTING OF EARTH DAY TO EARTH DAY POSTER CONTEST WINNERS AND TAKE PRIDE, OHIO! AND ACHIEVEMENTS IN EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS.
First Grade James Szittai Reedurban Elementary School, Stark County
Second Grade Mofida Helo Glendale-Feilbach School, Lucas County
Third Grade Lauren Schaufler Bogart Elementary School, Erie County
Fourth Grade Tessa Knopp Grand Rapids Elementary School, Wood County
Fifth Grade Lee Jones Home Instructed School, Logan County
Sixth Grade Ryan Tenbrink Holy Family School, Hamilton County
Seventh Grade Patrick Ollhoff Home Instructed School, Logan County
Eighth Grade Mallory Arter Dempsey Middle School, Delaware County
Ninth Grade Marissa Saneholtz Bowling Green High School, Wood County
Tenth Grade Bethany Frew Carrollton High School, Carroll County
Eleventh Grade Wentao Law Clay High School, Lucas County
Twelfth Grade Morgan Light Arlington School, Hancock County
Recycle, Ohio! Awards
Category Winner/County
Individual Luke Thaman, Williams County
Community Recycling Van Wert Solid Waste Mgt. District, Van Wert County
Buy Recycled Project (Tie) Sandusky County Park District, Sandusky County
Wilkinson-McVitty-Berlein Adult Day Center, Hardin Co.
Education Training (Tie) Keep Columbus Beautiful, Franklin County
Rockwell Automation, Cuyahoga County
Youth Recycling (Tie) Cardington-Lincoln Elementary School, Morrow County
New Albany Elementary School, Franklin County
Government The Board of Knox County Commissioners,
Knox County
Corporation/Business Battelle Memorial Institute, Franklin County
Clean Up, Ohio! Awards
Category Winner/County
Nonprofit Organization Loveland Beautification Committee, Hamilton County
Government Keep Columbus Beautiful, Franklin County
Corporate/Business The Kroger Company, Hamilton County
Sherwin-Williams, Cuyahoga County
Achievements In Excellence Award Winners
Association of Ohio Recyclers*
ODNR Division of Civilian Conservation*
Labor and Industry for a Cleaner Ohio*
ODNR Division of Forestry
Ohio Association of Litter Prevention and Recycling Professionals
Delaware/Knox/Marion/Morrow Solid Waste Management District
Keep Delaware County Beautiful
Knox County Recycling and Litter Prevention
Marion County Recycling and Litter Prevention
Morrow County Recycling and Litter Prevention
The Ohio State University, Farm Science Review
ODNR Division of Soil and Water Conservation
ODNR Division of Engineering
Rumpke Recycling
ODNR Division of Real Estate and Land Management
National Recycling Coalition
Organization of Solid Waste Districts of Ohio
Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden
Cleveland Metroparks Zoo
Toledo Zoo
Clinton County Solid Waste Management District
Cuyahoga County Solid Waste Management District
Hamilton County Solid Waste Management District
Lucas County Solid Waste Management District
Keep Perrysburg Beautiful
Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful
Ohio Soft Drink Association
Ohio Department of Transportation - Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 10
*Denotes more than one AIE Recognition