The Arkansas Recycling Coalition (ARC) held its annual awards presentation in Eureka Springs on sept. 20.  The presentation took place during the Arkansas Recycling Coalition's 26^th Annual Conference & Trade Show.  Each year this educational event attracts many professionals in the reduce, reuse, recycle, and sustainability field from around the state and nation.

The Little Rock Zoo was the recipient of ARC's 2016 Government Recycler of the Year Award. This award honors an agency/association who has made a significant contribution to the advancement of waste reduction, recycling, and sustainability in Arkansas over the past year. 

The unique nature of the Zoo has led to creative programs. For example, elephant manure is recycled to make a super mulch for landscaping. Additionally, the Little Rock Zoo Green Team placed recycling containers throughout the Zoo and Café Africa and has seen much success with both staff and guests actively recycling rather than putting everything in trash bins. Finally, educational brochures are available at the Zoo and online for educators to download to use as class lesson plans.    

On hand to accept the award from ARC's Board Director Charlie Wood were Jj Muehlhausen and Johnny Marchant.

Other award winners were The Holiday Inn Conference Center/O'Reilly Hospitality (Little Rock) – Corporate Recycler of the Year, Mary Singer (Marion) – Community Involvement Award, The Daisy Bates Elementary School (Little Rock) – School/College/University Recycler of the Year, Michelle Gillham and Betsy Spetich (ADEQ – N. Little Rock) Recycling Education Program of the Year Award, and Richard Metzelaars (Magnolia) Individual Recycler of the Year Award.  Roger Davis, Davis Rubber Company (Little Rock) was presented the Sustainable Business Award.

Award Sponsors for this year's event included McKee Foods Corporation (Gentry), Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control (E. Camden, and The Arkansas Association of Regional Solid Waste Management Districts. 

Founded in 1989, the ARC unites companies, government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and individuals in a common effort to promote reduce, reuse, recycle, and sustainability as a primary means of waste management in Arkansas.  For more information, visitwww.recycleark.org or call Cherie O'Mary, ARC Executive Director, at (866) 290-1429.

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