Description of Individual or organization
Environmental Co-op is a non-profit organization established in 1996 to manage Kaufman County and surrounding areas environmental needs. This area is rural and the county boundaries are from Cedar Creek Lake to Van Zandt County over to the East Trinity River close to Lake Ray Hubbard. There are many watersheds in this area and Environmental Co-op works with county organizations to keep citizens abreast of composting, water, recycling and hazardous waste information. Our mission is the conservation of natural resources through education and management of all aspects of solid and hazardous waste, recycling, and overuse of resources.
Leadership (Nominee demonstrates leadership through example, knowledge, attitude)
They hold e-waste collection events, paper shredding, manage three recycling drop off areas for citizens. This is due to rural citizens not having the opportunity for curbside recycling. In fact only one of six cities in Kaufman County has curbside recycling. This organization serves a very important place for citizens to recycle, find out how to manage
Environmental Impact (Nominee demonstrates a positive impact on the local environment via policy change, product offering, significant volunteer contribution or other achievement)
Over the past 15 years Environmental Co-op brought over 1.5 million dollars of grant funds into Kaufman County for the purpose of bringing a Household Hazardous Waste program to the county, starting 4 recycling collection stations servicing 39,000 citizens without city recycling services, creating an Environmental Odyssey school program for 9,600 second graders in 4 school districts in the county. Thousands of citizen's have been involved in one or more of Environmental Co-op's programs over the years. Too many volunteers to be able to keep track of have been involved in school programs, lake cleanups, e-waste and paper shredding programs or with use of the collection stations.
Community Impact (Nominee demonstrates commitment to DFW green community through involvement with causes, business ventures or organizations
Environmental Co-op works tirelessly to keep information flowing to the public and to keep up the recycling that so many of the citizen's want. They give teachers in 6 cities within Kaufman County educational materials for the students, provide speaking engagements with the young and elderly providing interesting topics on the environment
Other reasons for your nomination
With a very small budget this organization processes recyclables and sends them out for sale. They work with 6 school districts, 6 city councils and The Judge and 4 commissioners .
