CONGRATULATIONS!
2018 SAN GABRIEL VALLEY ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS WINNERS
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CITY OF ARTESIA
Artesia Christian Home has served the Artesia community for over 64 years by providing quality care services for seniors. The Artesia Christian Home is a major contributor to the City’s recycling goals. Their stewardship in the community does not stop at delivering services for seniors, they play a major role in recycling by leading and being the first business in Artesia to implement an organics recycling program.
CITY OF BRADBURY
Janice Kolodinski is in her 10th year as principal at Royal Oaks STEAM Academy. She has brought leadership in facilitating and promoting environmental awareness and education to students, families and the community. School visitors can see learning gardens which include composting bins. Throughout campus, students and staff recycle CRV bottles and cans as bins are in hallways, the cafeteria and staff lounge. However, in an effort to reduce plastic bottles altogether, students are strongly encouraged to use refillable, BPA-free bottles. To support this effort, the new construction of 14 Next Gen 7 classrooms includes 2 water stations with water-bottle spouts.
CITY OF DUARTE
Royal Oaks Manor, part of the Humangood corporation has really stepped up to the plate with all types of recycling including organics this past year. They faithfully separate their recyclables each week and recently added an additional 4 yard bin for both green waste & food waste. Also, their bins are always clean & organized. It is clear they take pride in their facility and are doing their part to save the planet.
Westminster Gardens, also part of the Humangood corporate family has also done a wonderful job recycling this year. There facility is always a clean and friendly place to visit. The company takes pride in the fact they are doing their part in recycling which help better our community environment. They also recently had a recycling presentation at their facility in order to see how much more they can do.
La Paloma is a long standing and well known Mexican restaurant in Duarte. Originally, they went from filling a 65 gallon barrel once a week to now increasing to a 2yd bin twice a week of food. They are a model for the program.
Woodward Engineering makes it a corporate priority to recycle all types of materials every week. Additionally, their bins are always filled with clean recyclable material with no contamination.
CITY OF POMONA
Youth and Family Club of Pomona Valley a steward, promoting a healthy community through their efforts in environmental leadership. They teach the youth of Pomona to recycle and use the funds raised for youth leadership projects. They began installing LED lighting on the outside of their facilities, as well as, solar panels. They hope to continue to install more in the future as funds are available for this effort. Finally they have installed low water landscaping throughout their property. They continue to find ways to continue to be good stewards of our environment as they teach our youth to do the same for the future of our community and the world.
Pomona Valley Hospital Medical Center is a Business Leader contributing and giving back to the community through their efforts in Environmental Leadership. Their ongoing efforts in recycling paper and cardboard material, as well as, their recently implemented “Organic Food Waste” program makes them an outstanding environmental leader. This program is cutting edge and demonstrates their willingness to go the extra mile to reduce their carbon footprint in their community.
Volar Motorsport is very conscientious and dedicated to recycling. They recycle, and reduce their trash down to two yards per week; along with diverting 3 yds. of cardboard a week. More importantly, the cardboard is not contaminated with any trash.
Graybar is a 238,000 square foot facility is a commercial lighting supplier. They have a 40 yd. recycling compactor that is serviced every week. Graybar’s dedication to recycling is in line with their company’s lighting products that are energy efficient, reducing energy costs and helping companies become more sustainable
Tropical Mexico is making great strides in their conservation efforts by responsibly managing their waste streams through implementation of mixed recyclables and food waste programs. Tropical Mexico’s leadership through years of continued improvement in waste reduction and diversion shows their commitment to resource conservation, the environment and the local community.
Pomona Unified School District
Roger Brown – Math teacher from Ganesha High School; Under Mr. Brown’s tutelage, Ganesha’s Garden Club has slowly and diligently been turning different trafficked spaces around campus into welcoming, verdant green spaces for student and faculty use
Robert Lopez – Science teacher from Park West Continuation School; Mr Lopez created a thriving container garden on campus which the students frequently maintain and attend. These gardens are price efficient and can be created and maintained in dry environments. They are maintained with less than a gallon of water. He also created a system that collects rain water to use for this garden. As a result, vegetables are now sprouting from the garden.
Felicia Castro and Sean Bell – Simons Middle School; Felicia Castro and Sean Bell are working together to start a community garden at Simons MS. They are integrating the project heavily into their respective pedagogies. The two are coming to the project from a Nutrition and Healthy Food Choices point of view. They are teaching their students about soil composition, ecosystems, local farms, and even lessons on making planters for the students to be able to prepare at home
Cynthia Hofferth – Science Teacher at Diamond Ranch HS; Cynthia Hofferth is a long time advocate for protecting the environment, especially keeping plastics out of the ocean. As a result, she inspired many students go on to study environmental science and take up similar causes because of her instruction and example.
Edwin Aviles – Chemistry Teacher at Pomona HS: Edwin Aviles takes on an additional role as being the club advisor of the Pomona High School Green Team. The Green Team has been a club at PHS for over six years. They take on multiple roles and projects which continually improve his campus’ environment.
CITY OF ROSEMEAD
Elizabeth Martinez delivers over 20 years of experience in the solid waste industry. Joining Consolidated Disposal, a subsidiary of Republic Services, as an Account Manager in 2004, Elizabeth worked to become a Municipal Relationship Manager. The breadth of her experience extends from overseeing commercial accounts, school districts, and franchise contracts. More importantly, Elizabeth is well-informed with mandated local and state disposal policies. Elizabeth is a five-time prestigious Republic Services Chairman Awards winner. Elizabeth credits her success to her passion for providing exceptional customer service and being proactive with understanding the needs of her cities.
Kami Buffet started Organics Program thanks to Manager Linda in December 2017 and has composed 14 tons to date. Kami Buffet also continues to have a great commingled recycling program.
Olive Garden started an Organics Program thanks to Managers Christy and Javier in November 2017 and to date has composted an estimate of 20 tons. Olive Garden also continues to have a great commingled recycling program.
Target Rosemead has been a valuable partner to the City of Rosemead. For the past 16+ years, Target Rosemead has aligned with the City’s social responsibility to focus areas to support a better, more sustainable world which aims to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. Rosemead Target is commitment to the 4’rs – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rot! The store has a very successful recycling cardboard, foodwaste, paper, plastic, shrinkwrap recycling programs. They also partner will a local organization to donate food for not only humans but also for a local animal shelter.
CITY OF SIERRA MADRE
Carolyn Dasher is an enthusiastic member of Sierra Madre’s Energy, Environment & Natural Resources Commission. Her sustainability outreach efforts is highlighted by her recent coordination with the 3rd Annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival in Sierra Madre. Carolyn prides herself by not just ‘talking the talk,’ but also demonstrating an environmentally nurturing approach to residential living. Residents of Sierra Madre are invited to view bio-swales installed in her front property for the infiltration of precious rainwater. The City of Sierra Madre is in awe of Carolyn’s energy and enthusiasm towards sustainable living, and are very happy to recognize her for this award.
Carol Canterbury is a long-time resident and businesswoman of Sierra Madre and the 2017 Sierra Madre Citizen of the Year. She is also an avid supporter of sustainability practices and reflects the City’s ethos towards recycling and reusing day-to-day items. “It’s the little things, done daily, that matter” is her mantra both at home and her Sierra Madre office. Carol is also one of the most prominent City volunteers. Carol approaches all tasks with an eye for conserving resources at every level. The City of Sierra Madre wishes it could “bottle” Carol’s energy and enthusiasm, and appreciates her attention to important sustainability considerations in her work.
Taylor’s Market is the jewel of Sierra Madre businesses serving the small community for 50 years, and much of that time as the only market in town. It is known regionally as a premier butcher market, and is currently expanding to provide additional essentials locally to reduce the need for residents to drive further for their household needs. Taylor’s has been an example of sustainability “before it was cool.” They still use an old bundler to facilitate cardboard recycling. Their products are offered with the least amount of packaging and feature products that are locally produced in the San Gabriel Valley. Don Taylor and his family continue to run the most appreciated business in town, and the City of Sierra Madre is proud to recognize them, not just for their steaks, but also for their years of earth-friendly practices.
Athens Services has been a partner in sustainability with Sierra Madre for 17 years. They have consistently gone above and beyond contractual obligations in diversions and recycling programs. Recently, they have progressively approached the City of Sierra Madre with fresh ideas with an eye on emerging technologies. Athens Services and Sierra Madre staff have explored a partnership beyond traditional waste management and into water quality objectives. Currently a program is being implemented to enhance street sweeping best practices to remove trash and other pollutants from reaching the watershed, and additional programs are being considered. The City of Sierra Madre is proud to recognize Athens for their consistently outstanding services and willingness to explore new ideas.