Eva Murray, Recycling and Solid Waste Coordinator for Matinicus Island was named 2018 Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Manager of the Year by Maine Resource Recovery Association at this year’s Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Conference & Trade Show held last week at the Samoset Resort.  

In his remarks, President, Ross Nason, said that few could imagine just one person running a recycling and solid waste program for an entire community but that Murray “didn’t just drive the program…. She drives the truck.”

Murray was instrumental in starting Matinicus Island’s recycling and solid waste program in 2003, before which the isolated community had no municipal trash service, transfer station, or town dump. 

“Most remarkably, she has kept it going and going…on an island 22 miles out to sea,” he said.

The 25th Annual Maine Recycling and Solid Waste Conference and Trade Show: “Betting on Innovation,” was held on Monday and Tuesday, April 23 and 24, at the Samoset Resort in Rockport.

The following individuals and programs were also recognized for their contributions to advancing waste reduction and recycling in Maine: 

•                  Volunteer of the Year: Rockland Waste Watchers

•                  Composter of the Year: We Compost It! / MB Bark

•                  Outstanding Service Organization: Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments 

•                  Most Improved Program: City of Eastport

•                  Program of the Year: Town of Bowdoinham

•                  Sustainable Business Leader: Clayton Kyle, CLYNK

•                  Distinguished Service Award: George MacDonald, retired Director of Sustainability Division, ME DEP

A special award was also presented to the nonprofit’s President, Ross Nason, in honor of 25 years of service to the organization, the recycling industry, and the communities of Maine. 

The Recycling and Solid Waste Conference and Trade Show is organized annually by Maine Resource Recovery Association, Maine’s non-profit trade organization for professionals in the recycling and solid waste industry.  

The two-day event brought together experts and service providers from across Maine’s solid waste industry to address current topics in materials management and how to improve recycling and solid waste management programs, reduce costs and protect the environment.