Six Valparaiso residents became Certified Master Recyclers, and 14 Porter County residents became Master Recycler Interns at a recognition event recently held by the Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County.
Valparaiso residents Rudy and Barb Kunshek, Raymond Halfman, Joy Lundstrom, and Bonnie and Susan Swarner earned certifications for completing their 30 volunteer hour requirements.
Residents who completed the fall program, the fourth time the classes were offered, to become Master Recycler Interns include from Chesterton: Jennifer Brooks, Cynthia Pappas and Sarah Pavlovic; from Valparaiso: Anne and Kent Floy, Anita Friedrich, Richard Horst, Subbayamma Nagubadi, Sandra O’Brien, Brigitte Pseja, Nora Ritter Sasse, and Linda Thell-Bowen; from Porter: Samantha Joll; and from Portage: Mark Kizer.
The Porter County Master Recycler program, a multi-week class sponsored by the Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County, provides a comprehensive overview of waste reduction in Porter County that includes information on the district, what to recycle, how to reduce waste, composting, vermicomposting, household hazardous waste and field trips to a landfill, materials recovery facility, Metro Recycling and the Valparaiso compost site.
Once they finish the classes, the new interns commit to completing 30 volunteer hours to help increase recycling awareness and create programs in order to earn their Master Recycler Certifications.
The purpose of the program is to create a volunteer pool of knowledgeable residents who inspire and educate others in their communities to reduce waste in the home and at work.
The spring class will soon be announced. Anyone who lives or works in Porter County and may be interested in the spring class can register interest on the district's website, www.ItMeansTheWorld.org. For more information, call 465-3819.
The Recycling & Waste Reduction District of Porter County is an agency dedicated to improving the environment and quality of life by providing services and educational programs which help residents reduce, reuse, and recycle.