PRESS RELEASE                                                                 

For Immediate Release
July 23, 2009

 2008 Cecil County Recycling Award Winners Announced

 Elkton, MD - The Board of County Commissioners of Cecil County is pleased to announce the winners of the 2008 Cecil County Recycling Awards.  This is the fourth year that the Board of County Commissioners has recognized municipalities and private firms for excellence in recycling and waste reduction.  

 Signature Waste Services has been selected as the "# 1 Residential Recycling and Refuse Hauler" in Cecil County for 2008.  This 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.  Signature Waste Services recycled over 565,000 pounds of material, which equates to a 19.34% recycling rate.   

 Tristate Waste Solutions was named the "# 1 Large Commercial Recycling Hauler" in Cecil County for the second year in a row.  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 10,000 tons of waste per year, are eligible.  For 2008, Tristate Waste Solutions recycled over 652,000 pounds of material, which equates to a 5.5% recycling rate.

 Junkbeegone.com is the winner of the "# 1 Small Commercial Recycling Hauler" award for 2008.  This is also the second year in a row that Junkbeegone.com has captured this award.  This category recognizes the small hauler having the highest recycling rate.  Firms serving Cecil County businesses and institutions and who haul less than 10,000 tons of waste per year are eligible for this award.  Junkbeegone.com specializes in single stream recycling pickup for businesses and recycled over 64,000 pounds of material in 2008, 51.86% of the waste it hauled.   

 Elkton Recycling was named the "# 1 Maryland Recycling Act Metal Recycler" in Cecil County.  This category recognizes the firm recycling the greatest quantity of white goods (refrigerators and other appliances) as defined by the Maryland Recycling Act.  Elkton Recycling recycled over 9.1 million pounds of white goods in 2008 to earn this distinction.   

 Elkton Recycling took home a second award by being named the "# 1 Non-Maryland Recycling Act Metal Recycler" in Cecil County for 2008 in recognition of its recycling of 2.4 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 second year in a row that Elkton Recycling won this award.   

 Ikea Wholesale received the award for "# 1 Recycling Business in Cecil County" in 2008.  This award goes to the Cecil County business that recycles the greatest quantity of materials.  In 2008, Ikea recycled over 3.3 million pounds of material, or over 76% of its waste material, including metal, plastics, cardboard, paper, fabric, wood, and other materials.

 The Town of Rising Sun earned the title of "# 1 Recycling Municipality in Cecil County" by achieving a 16.88% recycling rate for 2008. 

 Special Recognition Awards were presented to NorthBay and the Town of North East for their efforts to promote recycling and waste reduction in Cecil County.  NorthBay was recognized for their wide-ranging recycling program and efforts to educate students about recycling and other environmental issues.  The Town of North East was selected in recognition of its efforts to expand recycling including the initiation of curbside recycling for town residents and for providing recycling opportunities at various municipal events.

 According to Scott Flanigan, County Director of Public Works, "Recycling yields many environmental benefits, including saving raw materials and conserving landfill space.  Congratulations to all the winners and thanks for supporting the County's recycling program."  

 Members of the Board of County Commissioners presented certificates to the winners at the July 21, 2009 meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. President Lockhart stated, "The Board of County Commissioners extends our thanks to the recycling award winners for their effort to reduce waste in our landfill, and for supporting the County's recycling program".

 For more information on the Cecil County Recycling Program contact Tanya Adams, Recycling Coordinator at 410.996.6275 ext. 224, or visit the website at http://www.ccgov.org/dept_works/recycling.cfm

 Direct questions regarding this press release to:

Tanya Adams
Cecil County Recycling Coordinator
Solid Waste Division
410.996.6275  ext. 224
tadams@ccgov.org