Marion County Deputy Receives Recycling Awards

Photo: Marion County Sheriff's Office

(Salem, Oregon) - On Wednesday, the Marion County Board of Commissioners presented Deputy Bob Ferris with the 2011 Association of Oregon Recyclers Recycler of the Year Award in the government category. A two decade veteran of the Marion County Jail, Deputy Ferris, who is also a Master Recycler, has worked for many years to improve recycling and waste reduction efforts at the county jail. As a result of Deputy Ferris' efforts, the county jail is now realizing savings of over $20,000 per year by decreasing the size and frequency of garbage collection.

In addition to the Association of Oregon Recyclers Recycler of the Year Award, Deputy Ferris was awarded the 2011 Mid-Valley Green Recycler of the Year in April. A few examples of Deputy Ferris' recycling and waste reduction efforts include:

• Increased recycling from five co-mingled bins per week to 14 co-mingled bins per week which allowed the jail to go from a 40-yard dumpster to a 30-yard dumpster. Total savings for the year was approximately $7,540
• Reduced the number of times the 30 yard dumpster was picked up by 20 times a year resulting in $9,280 in annual savings.
• Switched from paper to cloth towels for cell clean-up for an annual savings of about $12,000.
• Recycles about 7,800 pounds of plastic per year and reduced the use of plastic bags by 66,500 per year.
• On August 1, 2011, began collecting used bars of soap. The soap is recycled by a company called "Clean for the World" and is given away in 40 different countries.

Deputy Ferris is also looking ahead for additional ways to save. He recently arranged for a waste audit to document what is thrown away on a typical day to identify opportunities for further waste reduction. His hope is to eventually set-up a sorting line for jail waste so that inmates can separate post-consumer compostable food and other recyclables that end up in the trash.

The Board of Commissioners expressed their appreciation of Deputy Ferris' efforts and the example he sets for the community. Commissioner Sam Brentano remarked on his experience in the waste industry and previous attempts at waste reduction at the jail. He said, "For a successful program, it takes someone dedicated to take ownership of the program. I think we've found that person in Bob." Marion County Sheriff Jason Myers additionally commented, "One of our core responsibilities is the efficient use of taxpayer funds. Deputy Ferris lives out that vision for the Sheriff's Office."

To learn more about recycling or waste reduction, please contact Marion County Environmental Services at (503) 588-5169 or visit www.co.marion.or.us/PW/ES/.

Source: Marion County Sheriff's Office