FREDERICK, MD – Winners of the 2020 and 2021 Frederick County Sustainability Awards were recognized during a virtual ceremony on Oct. 14. County Executive Jan Gardner was joined by Frederick County Sustainability Commission Vice Chair Faith Klareich and 2020 Chair Betty Law to congratulate winners and nominees. Selected by the Sustainability Commission based on demonstrated leadership, innovation, and success in sustainability, the awards were presented in the following categories:
2020 Awards
- Commercial—Key City Compost for leading environmentally progressive waste management efforts and founding Frederick County’s first commercial composting business.
- Individual—Joyce Tuten for being a passionate climate change educator and advocate and enthusiastic member of the Middletown Sustainability Committee.
- Nonprofit—ReStore of Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County for offering a place to donate and resell quality furnishings to keep them out of landfills and using proceeds to provide homes for low-income families.
- Student –Ember Carrera for being a waste diversion advocate and pioneering a waste management initiative with students at Urbana High School to divert compost, liquids, and recycling from the landfill.
2021 Awards
- Commercial—District Farms for using a breakthrough, computer-controlled hydroponic growing system for leafy greens that leads to reduced CO2 emissions, 95% less water use than conventionally-grown leafy greens, and zero use of pesticides and herbicides.
- Individual—Jake Romanell for leading numerous New Market green efforts as a resident and Town Council member and fostering community engagement. Results of his efforts include an electric vehicle charging station at Town Hall, a pond conversion project that purifies stormwater runoff and increases tree cover, safe walking trails, a New Market Girl Scout compost bin project, and rain barrel and composting workshops.
- Nonprofit—Frederick Arts Council’s Sky Stage for transforming a boarded pre-Revolutionary War building in downtown historic Frederick into building-scale public art and a center for arts and culture.
- Student – Jordan Heyrend for creating and leading a project to collect old coats and jackets and distribute them to those in need in Frederick County.
The event may be viewed on FrederickCountyMD.gov/FCGTV under Special Events. For more information, contact Sustainability Program Manager Dawn Ashbacher at 301-600-6864 or via e-mail at dashbacher@FrederickCountyMD.gov.
The Frederick County Sustainability Commission represents the natural environment's critical relevance in making community decisions that will sustain for all time a healthy, abundant, affordable, and inspiring place to live and work. More information about the Frederick County Sustainability Commission can be found at: https://www.frederickcountymd.gov/FCSC.
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