Earlier this week Cecil County announced the winners of their 2021 Recycling Awards.
Earlier this week, Cecil County Government held its 17th Annual Recycling Awards, recognizing municipalities, private firms, and other organizations for excellence in recycling and waste reduction.
MPK Services has been selected as the “# 1 Residential Recycling Hauler” in Cecil County for 2021, winning this award for the third time. The award recognizes the private residential refuse hauler with the highest recycling rate, which is defined as the percentage of material that is recycled as opposed to being landfilled. MPK Services recycled over 1.2 million pounds of material in 2021, equating to a 41% recycling rate.
Waste Management was named the “# 1 Large Commercial Recycling Hauler” in Cecil County for 2021, the 13th time they have received this award. This award recognizes the large private refuse hauler with the highest recycling rate for waste generated within Cecil County. Firms serving Cecil County businesses and institutions who haul more than 15,000 tons of trash and recyclables per year are eligible. Waste Management recycled over 2.6 million pounds of material in 2021, which equates to a 6.4% recycling rate.
Waste Connections was named the winner of the “# 1 Small Commercial Recycling Hauler” award for 2021. This is the eighth year in a row that Waste Connections (previously known as Waste Master Solutions) has garnered this award. This category recognizes the small hauler having the highest recycling rate. Firms serving Cecil County businesses and institutions who haul less than 15,000 tons of trash and recyclables per year are eligible for this award. Waste Connections recycled over one-million pounds of material in 2021, or 10% of the commercial waste it hauled.
Elkton Recyclers, Inc. was named the “# 1 Maryland Recycling Act Metal Recycler” in Cecil County for the 14th year in a row. This category recognizes the firm recycling the greatest quantity of white goods (refrigerators and other appliances) as defined by the Maryland Recycling Act. Elkton Recyclers recycled over 16.8 million pounds of white goods in 2021.
Elkton Recyclers, Inc. was also named the “# 1 Non-Maryland Recycling Act Metal Recycler” in Cecil County for 2021, in recognition for its recycling of over 9.5 million pounds of non-white goods scrap metal. This category recognizes the firm recycling the greatest quantity of miscellaneous scrap metals that are NOT covered by the Maryland Recycling Act, hence the name of the award. This is the 14th time that Elkton Recyclers has captured this award.
W.L. Gore & Associates received the award for “# 1 Recycling Business in Cecil County” in 2021. This award goes to the Cecil County business (other than a metal recycler) which recycles the greatest quantity of materials. In 2021, Gore recycled over 4.9 million pounds of material, including metal, plastics, cardboard, paper, fabric, wood, and other materials. This is the 14th time that Gore has received this award.
For the 12th year in a row, the Town of Chesapeake City earned the title of “# 1 Recycling Municipality in Cecil County” by recycling over 1.2 million pounds of materials in 2021, which equates to a 59.6% recycling rate.
Victoria Park Apartments in North East was named the winner of the award for “# 1 Recycling Apartment Building or Condominium.” This is the seventh year that this award has been given. It recognizes the apartment building or condominium owner or manager falling under the State of Maryland’s “Apartment Building or Condominium Recycling Program” mandate and having the highest reported recycling rate in a given year. Victoria Park Apartments recycled 39% of the waste generated by its residents in 2021.
The Town of North East received a Recycling and Source Reduction Recognition award for its efforts to promote recycling at town-sponsored events through the use of the Cecil County Department of Public Works Solid Waste Management Division’s recycling bin loan program. The events where the recycling bins were used included the Flower Fair, Salute to Cecil County Veterans, and Cruise for a Cure Car Show, among others.
County Executive Danielle Hornberger thanked the winners while presenting the awards. “I just want to thank all the participants within these organizations and municipal governments for doing their part to make our communities cleaner. I offer my heartfelt congratulations to all the winners, but I also want to thank the County’s residents, municipalities, and businesses for their continued support of the County’s recycling program.”
