It isn’t easy being green, but the Coos Bay District’s efforts to reduce waste and promote recycling garnered the agency the Recycler of the Year Award – Public Sector from the Association of Oregon Recyclers. Representatives from the District’s Green Team received the award at a ceremony in Eugene, Oregon on June 15. The team’s efforts and the resulting award demonstrate the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) commitment to creating a stewardship legacy and being a good neighbor in the community. Each year, the Association of Oregon Recyclers recognizes individuals and organizations who have made exceptional contributions to recycling and waste prevention in Oregon. The Coos Bay District Green Team is a group of nine employees who work together to reduce the federal government’s environmental footprint and implement sustainable business practices. “I’m very proud of the work the team has accomplished and the efforts of every employee to reduce our footprint,” said Kathy Westenskow-Davis, Coos Bay District Manager. The Coos Bay District has implemented several projects over the last several years that have enabled the agency to reduce consumption of electricity and water and increase recycling opportunities for both employees and visitors to public lands on the southern Oregon Coast. The team has increased recycling at the district office to include glass, plastic, aluminum, plastic film, shredded paper and books. Every employee received a reusable shopping bag to reduce the use of plastic bags. The team was also successful in receiving grant funding to install water bottle filling stations in the office to reduce employee’s use of plastic water bottles. The District also started recycling programs at its most popular recreation sites. The 600,000 visitors who enjoy BLM campgrounds, day use areas and waysides in the area each year, including Loon Lake Recreation Area and Dean Creek Elk Viewing Area, can now recycle cans and bottles. This is made possible thanks to successful recycling partnerships between the BLM and Star of Hope and the Boy Scouts. The Coos Bay District is responsible for the management of 325,000 acres of public lands on the southern Oregon Coast in Douglas, Coos and Curry Counties. The agencies employs 110 permanent employees at its office in North Bend. For additional information, please visit blm.gov/oregon-washington. Additional information on the Recycler of the Year Awards can be found at http://oregonrecyclers.org/ conference/ROY-awards
