Follow10.24.2024 – ALPAR’s annual awards recognize companies, organizations or individuals that have made significant impact in litter prevention and recycling. They are intended to celebrate their achievements and commitment as well as provide inspiration for others. This year’s awards were held Oct. 17th at Main Event Grill & Catering in Anchorage. Dale Westerlin, ALPAR President (representing TOTE) and Kurt Froening, ALPAR 1st Vice President (representing Alaska Waste) shared the duty of master of ceremonies.
ALPAR awards are divided into two categories. First, the Community Awards, and second, the Board of Directors Awards. The purpose of the Community Awards is to build community support and capacity in our existing service areas and programs, allowing us to look outside our board and organizational supporters for grass roots success and leaders. The Board of Directors Awards creates awareness of corporate philanthropic endeavors and celebrates visionary leaders, allowing us to look within the companies which serve on the ALPAR board or support the organization.
Thanks to Weaver Brothers, each community award winner was provided $500 to dedicate to either their nonprofit or an organization involved in litter prevention or recycling. Those unable to attend in person were mailed their awards (and checks if applicable).
Outstanding Education or Outreach: Alaska Military Youth Academy
The Academy is dedicated to developing leaders of tomorrow by engaging with youth ages 16-18 years old to develop self-confidence, discipline as well as leadership and life-coping skills to assist with their academic success. Part of their core values is to build a stronger community by giving back. For many years, the Academy has served Anchorage by cleaning up litter – this year alone, the Academy enlisted 414 youth who dedicated over 1,000 hours to keeping our community clean and pristine.
Congratulations to the Alaska Military Youth Academy!
New or Enhanced Recycling Program: Net Your Problem
Net Your Problem, operated by Nicole Baker, sends plastic fishing nets destined for the landfill to recyclers while increasing demand for products made from recycled materials. Fishing nets, typically made from synthetic materials like polyethylene and nylon, take hundreds of years to degrade. Her business collects the netting and lines, sorts it into different kinds of plastics, bales it up, puts it on a truck or on a barge and sends it to a recycling facility. The recycling facilities then process the collected plastic into pellets that can be sold to manufacturers to make products from it like clothing and gear.
Her operation has been active in Dutch Harbor, King Cove, Dillingham, Kodiak and Cordova. To date, she has collected nearly 1 million pounds of material with a goal to expand uses for the product while developing a long-term waste solution to fishing gear.
Congratulations Nicole!
Litter Prevention Award: Talkeetna Recycling Committee, locally known as the TRC
The TRC works with many partners to ensure as much recoverable material as possible can be diverted from Mat-Su landfills. The group sends cardboard and plastics to VCRS in Wasilla, while other plastics that can’t be accepted by VCRS go to Alaska Plastics Recovery to be made into plastic lumber known as Grizzly Wood. The committee also partners with the Denali Education Center, which has organized electronic waste collection on Earth Day (April 20th), a free event for Mat-Su residents.
While totals for this year are still being tallied, Talkeetna residents recycled nearly 53 tons of plastic, cans, paper and cardboard in 2023. That’s about five more tons than the prior year. Keep in mind, this effort is completely volunteer run!
Congratulations Talkeetna Recycling Committee!
Volunteerism or Service Award: Cooper Landing Senior Citizens Corp., locally known as the Sexy Senior Dumpster Cleaners
When people think of litter, they envision what’s along the roadside, but they often don’t think of who or how it is removed once it’s gone. For decades, a group of sourdoughs have been cleaning transfer stations in Cooper Landing, Hope and Moose Pass every Monday. Twice a year they also take on portions of the Adopt-a-Highway and throughout the summer they monitor the Cooper Landing area for litter. They watch for discarded appliances, furniture and other large objects improperly disposed. The seniors regularly communicate with Alaska Waste so full dumpsters are swapped out with empties.
Congratulations Cooper Landing Senior Citizens!
Supporter of the Year: CARRS/Safeway
Prior to combining, both CARRS and Safeway helped start ALPAR in the ‘80s as founding supporters. The union of the two businesses resulted in a merged mindset to help with the recycling effort in Alaska. This support comes from their roots – it was Joe Gulley, District Manager for Safeway who not only served a role in the merging of the two companies, but as ALPAR president. Though he passed away in 2008, his corporate citizenship and many of the programs he helped create still operate today.
In Anchorage, CARRS/Safeway stores serve as community recycling drop stations for aluminum cans and newspapers – two of the most ubiquitous materials that can be recycled. CARRS/Safeway is also a primary sponsor of the very popular ALPAR holiday tree recycling program, providing oversight by their store managers, signage, advertising and enough space at their stores to recycle more than 3,000 trees every year – not the easiest task in winter, especially during last year’s “snowmageddon.”
Since its inception, the business continues to provide leadership on the ALPAR Board through the participation of CARRS/Safeway District Manager Stephanie Kennedy.
Congratulations Carrs/Safeway!
Joe Gulley Award: Jenny Forner of re:MADE
Jenny Forner is a force to be reckoned with. From the moment you meet Jenny, folks can see her passion and dedication for diverting items from the landfill. Jenny is the previous executive Director of re:MADE, a local nonprofit with a storefront familiar to many who live in Anchorage. Through her direction, re:MADE has had a significant impact on recycling and diversion in Alaska: the storefront not only accepts items otherwise destined to be buried in the landfill by repurposing them, the store also employes those who otherwise would not have a job.
re:MADE is in the process of moving into Anchorage’s Materials Recovery Facility and will operate their own hours of operation and establishing a workshop for “makers” to refurbish and breathe new life into old items.
Congratulations Jenny!
Thank you 2024 ALPAR Awards sponsors:
Gold Sponsor:
Super Supporters:
Community awards grant sponsor:
