Released November 26, 2008
HELENA, Mont. -- In an increasingly challenging economic and environmental time, the importance of creating sustainable communities is more pressing than ever. At a Nov. 17 ceremony, Gov. Brian Schweitzer honored 2008 EcoStar award winners from a dozen communities around Montana.
The EcoStar Award recognizes Montanan businesses and organizations that are helping create more environmentally and economically sustainable communities by surpassing state and federal requirements to reduce solid and hazardous waste generation, conserving valuable resources such as water, energy and clean air, and serving as role models by their pollution prevention efforts.
"Montana's first people lived to conserve and sustain their lands for seven generations beyond their own," Schweitzer said. "We are a middle generation faced with an unsustainable energy system and an unsustainable food system. Each and every one of you EcoStar recipients are working to challenge and change those systems. Let's join together to conserve and sustain for generations to come."
EcoStar, now in its ninth year, provides organizations with the EcoStar designation based on the applicant's commitment to waste reduction, environmental benefits they have achieved, amount of waste they prevented and the innovation shown in their waste-reduction activities. The 2008 EcoStar award winners included organizations from Belgrade, Billings, Boulder, Bozeman, Choteau, Columbia Falls, Ennis, Harrison, Kalispell, Livingston, Missoula and Red Lodge. The 25 winners are comprised of a diverse group including everything from hospitals to farmers/ranchers, builders, a ski resort, a pet product company and a liquid herbicide formulator.
"This is an opportunity for us to come together and recognize one another's efforts and provide well-deserved gratitude to Montanans who are leading their communities and working to preserve and protect our environmental resources," said Jenny Grossenbacher, Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Housing Coordinator for Extension at MSU.
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http://www.montana.edu/cpa/news/nwview.php?article=6589
Contact: Jenny Grossenbacher, mvogel@montana.edu, (406) 994-4292
