JACKSON HOLE, WYO – Teton County generates tons of waste. As a tourist destination that hosts millions of visitors a year, that’s inevitable. But efforts to reduce the waste and making it go away in a planet-friendly manner is something to brag about.
Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling (ISWR), was honored with several awards recently at the Wyoming Solid Waste and Recycling Association (WSWRA) annual conference in Lander. The event took place August 28-31, and ISWR cleaned up.
The WSWRA grants awards for various public and private sector achievements, as well as individual and organizational excellence. This year, all four major awards were given to individuals, companies, or organizations within Teton County.
- Government Program – 10,000+ Population (recognition for outstanding program in recycling/diversion): Teton County Integrated Solid Waste and Recycling
- Recycler of the Year (individual or group making an outstanding contribution to the recycling effort in Wyoming):Lane Raper, Senior Recycling Operator, Teton County ISWR
- Private Industry (recognition for outstanding program in recycling/diversion): Westbank Sanitation
- 501(c)(3) (recognition for outstanding program in recycling/diversion): Hole Food Rescue
Heather Overholser, ISWR superintendent, commented on the conference and achievements of Teton County.
“It was encouraging to hear so much mention of waste diversion at the Wyoming Conference this year. We are honored to receive the government award. We are thrilled to be working with organizations like Westbank Sanitation and Hole Food Rescue, and we look forward to continued contributions to what has become a statewide effort to reduce waste and responsibly manage resources.”
Following the distribution of awards and near the conclusion of the conference, Overholser was elected to a three-year term to the WSWRA’s Board of Directors. In this role, she will work with the organization to support solid waste reduction and recycling efforts around the state.
The efforts of Teton County ISWR, Westbank Sanitation, and Hole Food Rescue are collaborative and represent coordinated cooperation among governmental, non-profit, and private sector entities to accomplish community sustainability efforts such as the Road to Zero Waste (R2ZW).
In 2014, a Zero Waste Resolution was adopted in Teton County establishing a goal of 60% waste diversion from landfill by the year 2030. Teton County ISWR has short, medium, and long-term strategies for achieving Zero Waste goals, including but not limited to: commercial food waste composting, collection and disposal fees that reward diversion, streamlined recycling collection, education, events, and other initiatives.
