FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Lake County, Indiana Receives National 2011 Green City Award

The Lake County Solid Waste Management District (District) brings home the “Green City” award to Lake County!   The first-ever national Green City Award, recognizing excellence in community education about recycling, was presented to the District’s educators, Lara Gonzalez, Angela Petyko and Kristin Sheets, known as the “Green Team”, during the second annual Residential Recycling Conference (RRC).

 “Waste & Recycling News and Republic Services organized the Green City Awards specifically to recognize the efforts of communities who are educating their citizens on the merits of recycling,” said Allan Gerlat, editor of Waste and Recycling News and one of the Green City award judges.

The Lake County Solid Waste Management District, through its Enviromobile and other school programs, as well as its community outreach and partnerships with various Lake County cities and towns, has effectively provided to its citizens education and information regarding recycling, and has provided and supported numerous recycling programs and efforts, including curbside recycling, drop off recycling centers, community collection days, electronics recycling, white goods and tire collections, household hazardous waste collections, latex paint recycling, agricultural tire recycling, confidential document destruction recycling and shoe and textile recycling.

 “I’m particularly pleased and proud to be a part of the early supporters, of identifying communities who have chosen to take the hard path forward that is necessary to make a difference,” ReCommunity CEO James Bohlig said. “At the end of the day, the hard part starts in communities. Those communities have to find a way to communicate and educate their folks about the importance of what we’re doing.”

Speaking about the award, Gerry Scheub, Chairman of the District and Lake County Commissioner, stated; “We are honored to receive this national award recognizing the quality of the Lake County Solid Waste Management District’s educators and the success of the District’s recycling programs.  We also recognize that an integral part of this success is due to the direction provided by the District’s board members, the contributions of all the District’s staff and the cooperation and support of the cities, towns and all of the citizens of Lake County.”

The first annual national Green City Awards were given to:  Muncie, IN - in the small communities category; Lake County, IN - in the medium communities category; and Dallas, TX in the large communities category.  Each community competed against 2 other finalists in their population categories.

Jeff Langbehn, the Executive Director of the District, said; “I am extremely honored and humbled that the District has received this award.  We hope to continue to come up with innovative programs which merit national attention but which provide significant local benefit for Lake County and its citizens.”

                       

Contact:  Jeff Langbehn, Executive Director

Lake County Solid Waste Management District

7820 Broadway, Merrillville, IN 46410

Ph: 219-769-3820 / jlangbehn@lcswmd.com