Kitsap County announces Earth Day Award winners

Each year, Kitsap County recognizes individuals, organizations, and businesses for their notable contributions to the environment in the county. An awards presentation took place April 14 at the Board of County Commissioners regular televised meeting.?

North Kitsap winners recognized include:

Outstanding Achievement in Sustainability:?Grounds for Change

There is no doubt this coffee roasting company in Poulsbo emphasizes all decisions of the company are made with environmental and social implications in mind. That is why they roast only shade grown Fair Trade organic coffee. They use only 100 percent recycled content paper, and recycle everything they can, even the burlap bags which are sewn into reusable totes and the chaff, which is composted. They also participate in Puget Sound Energy’s Green Power program to bring essential financing to wind farms and solar power projects – while offsetting their own carbon footprint.

Clean Kitsap Award:?Hansville Community Center Volunteers?

Any time of year you can find up to 20 people cleaning the roads of litter in the Hansville area. These are the Hansville Community Center Volunteers – a group of folks who joined the Adopt-A-Road program and regularly organize group clean-ups to keep Hansville looking clean and green.?

Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Leadership – Adult: Olympic Printer Resources

Olympic Printer Resources started in a Kingston basement as a business that remanufactures used toner cartridges. Since 1993, the company has grown to include selling or leasing remanufactured copiers and collecting electronic waste. In 2007, they held collections in Poulsbo and Silverdale that resulted in responsible recycling of 70 tons of computer equipment and televisions. Additional efforts include community education programs at local environmental events, participation in the Kitsap e3 education, environment, and economy Summit, and winning the Stillwaters Environmental Center Sustainable Business of the Year award in 2005. They raise the bar modeling their leadership efforts and by offering green solutions to businesses, schools, government agencies, and residents in Kitsap County and beyond.

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