ecomaine, a single-sort recycling and sustainable waste management, has opened its call for nominations for the 2021 eco-Excellence Awards. The Awards are designed to recognize and celebrate champions in Maine who are focused on recycling and waste diversion, and who are leading their communities toward greater models of sustainability.

Nominees may live or work in any of its member communities, and may be nominated through Sunday, January 31, 2021.

 “There are many ways that we can all be leaders in sustainability, whether it’s recycling, composting, sustainable living, or raising awareness of these key issues,” said Caleb Hemphill, Chair of ecomaine’s Outreach & Recycling Committee, in a news release. “That’s even true during a pandemic, and we look forward to recognizing the continued good work of Maine’s leaders.”

Nominees must be located in or serve one of 70 ecomaine communities. Nominees can be businesses, schools, nonprofits, or individuals and will be selected based on the effectiveness, increased awareness, community impact, and ease of replication of their sustainability programs or initiatives. 

Submissions will be judged by ecomaine’s Outreach & Recycling Committee on February 11, 2021, and awarded in March.

Last March, 2020’s eco-Excellence Awards were given to:

Amelia Meier (Saco, Individual Overall)
Chris Petitpierre (Gorham, Individual Overall)
GoGo Refill (South Portland, Business Overall)
King Middle School (Portland, Non-Profit Overall)
Mei Strout, Laura Morris, Louisa Longshore, & Gabrielle Morrell (Baxter Academy, Portland)
Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine South Portland Clubhouse Torch Club (South Portland)
Camp Ketcha (Scarborough)
David "Chids" Chidsey (Gorham)
Garbo-Kane, LLC (Fred Garbo & Shawn Kane, Otisfield)
Jake Cockrell (Readfield)
Kaplan Thompson Architects (Portland)
Katherine Gross (Scarborough)
Kidz Go Eco (Saco)
Rachel Lyn Rumson (Gray)
Tom Long (Portland)
Veterinary & Rehab Clinic of Cape Elizabeth (Cape Elizabeth)
WormMainea (Scarborough)
 

About ecomaine

ecomaine, the nonprofit, recycling and waste-to-energy operation that serves a third of the state’s population, is in Portland, Maine. The eco-Excellence Awards is an annual program organized by ecomaine to recognize businesses, schools, or individuals in any of ecomaine’s 70 member communities. Winners are selected based on the effectiveness, increased awareness, community impact, and ease of replication of their sustainability programs or initiatives.