NRRA awards Facilities Staff Recycler of the Year to New Hampshire custodian

Northeast Resource Recovery Association (NRRA), New Hampshire the Beautiful and NRRA’s School Recycling CLUB, all based in Epsom, New Hampshire, have presented Tim Phillips of White Mountains Regional High School, Whitefield, New Hampshire, with the Facilities Staff Recycler of the Year Award at the Ninth Annual School Recycling Conference, May 22, at the Manchester Downtown Hotel in Manchester, New Hampshire. 

NRRA released the following statement regarding Phillips:

“Tim came to our attention when Sarah McGraw did a Star Assessment at the White Mountains Regional High School. She discovered that Tim has been transporting recycling from all the schools to the Lancaster Transfer Station for a few years now, saving the district from paying a waste hauler to remove recycling. Tim’s dedication to school recycling has rubbed off on the schools, as the elementary and high schools both have active recycling clubs.”

According to school district staff, “Tim takes time out of his busy schedule to come to each of the schools to pick up the recycled items and bring them back to the transfer station. During the 2016/2017 school year, he even took some time after school to visit with our after-school environment club to talk about the different aspects of recycling. He brought with him a mop head, which was completely made with recycled bottles, which blew the students’ minds. They couldn’t believe that recycled bottles could make such a product. I think it gave the students an idea of just how important the work they were doing really was.”

“Facilities staff are often the unsung heroes of school recycling,” says Michael Durfor, NRRA executive director. “The sustainability of a recycling program depends on them, and we are proud to recognize Tim’s contribution to his school district.”

A total of 11 awards were given out at the School Recycling Conference. For nomination details on each recipient, visit The School Recycling CLUB website.

The School Recycling CLUB is a nonprofit group that assists schools in implementing, maintaining and improving recycling programs. Managed by NRRA, the CLUB offers school groups a chance to join a program that will help them promote or advance their efforts, network with other school groups, and stimulate school recycling, waste reduction and energy savings.

New Hampshire the Beautiful is supported by members of the NH Soft Drink Association, the Beverage Distributors of New Hampshire Association and the New Hampshire Grocers Association. This collaborative effort by food and beverage companies has developed comprehensive programs to address, litter issues, recycling challenges, environmental awareness and education.

Founded in 1981, NRRA provides a clearinghouse for current, up-to-date information and a source of technical and marketing assistance in the general areas of waste reduction and recycling. NRRA is a member driven organization made up of over 400 municipalities, individuals, and businesses in New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut and southern Maine.