The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) this month was honored with the 2017 Environmental Hero “State Agency Recycler of the Year” Award from the Mississippi Recycling Coalition (MRC). MDEQ has been recycling within the agency’s facilities since the early nineties, but has recently increased efforts to improve MDEQ’s recycling program to make recycling easier and more convenient for their employees and to help ensure the collection of both a higher quantity and quality of materials for recycling.
These efforts include: working more closely with the agency’s recycler, Allen’s Recycling, to streamline collection and reduce contamination; increasing the Recycling and Waste Reduction Branch staff; developing a new employee recycling guide; adding new bin and promotional signage at various locations within agency facilities; consolidating and increasing bins where necessary to maximize convenience; and meeting with the different divisions within the agency to present information on the recycling program and answer questions. In addition, the MDEQ continues to lead and assist other state agencies and institutions with recycling and to encourage recycling throughout the state.
MRC is a consortium of recycling companies, local governments, state agencies, and other interested organizations that promote responsible solid waste management. For more information on the MRC Environmental Hero Awards, please visit the MRC webpage.
