RethinkWaste receives environmental award

RethinkWaste, San Carlos, Calif., has announced that it is a 2014 Acterra Business Environmental Award winner for its Environmental Education Center and tours program at its Shoreway Environmental Center in San Carlos. RethinkWaste was honored in the Environmental Project category as a medium-size project. Winners will be recognized May 28, 2014, at Acterra’s annual award reception.

 

Acterra is a nonprofit organization with a 44-year history of environmental programming in and around the Silicon Valley region of California. 

 

The award recognizes RethinkWaste’s commitment to incorporating environmental education in its master plan to redesign and construct a recycling and transfer facility at the Shoreway Environmental Center. The commitment included building an Environmental Education Center at the material recovery facility (MRF), and the free tour program for schools, community groups and the general public. More than 11,000 people have visited the facility since the program began in January 2012, RethinkWaste says. 

 

“We are gratified to receive such a prestigious environmental award from Acterra,” says Kevin McCarthy, executive director of RethinkWaste. “We are very proud of the fact that we have positively impacted over 8,000 students who come away from a tour with a much greater understanding of how to conserve our precious natural resources.”

 

The tours include visiting the transfer station; the MRF; the Environmental Education Center, which includes exhibits, reuse art and a talking robot; and an outdoor education area complete with a 10,000-gallon rainwater harvest tank, a composting and gardening demonstration area and exhibits on water and energy conservation.

 

“Acterra is pleased to recognize such a diverse and accomplished group of awardees this year. Their commitment and positive environmental impact on our region is extraordinary,” says Laura Teksler, Acterra’s board president. “We proudly congratulate them for their tremendous achievements in sustainable business practices and encourage others to follow their lead.”

 

RethinkWaste is a joint powers authority of 12 public agencies in the Silicon Valley.