The city of Bridgeport, Wash., earned an Environmental Excellence Award from the Washington Department of Ecology.
Recently, the city sponsored a successful burn-barrel turn-in event that netted 51 burn barrels. The first 24 residents who turned in their burn barrels received a free compost bin.
By 2005, the city plans to expand its waste collection and recycling program. With the help of county and state grants, the city will recycle everything from anti-freeze, auto batteries and appliances to scrap metal, cardboard, plastic, clear glass and fluorescent light tubes.
In addition, the city is working to set up a classroom-based recycling program at local schools. Once established, students will recycle paper and cardboard from their classrooms.
Volunteers also are being recruited to staff the city's own recycling center. Recovered fiber and old corrugated containers are currently being accepted from the Army Corps of Engineers at Chief Joseph Dam and local merchants, allowing them to reduce disposal costs and prevent materials from going into a landfill.
The Environmental Excellence Award is the state's highest honor recognizing environmental stewardship.