19257_Authority_June_2026

42 The Authority │ June June 15 th Is Waste and R Honoring Our Team and Our Community Partners A t the Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority, appreciation is more than a moment - it’s a mindset. From the dedicated employees who keep our operations running every day to the community partners who champion sustainability across Centre County, we are proud to celebrate the people who make a lasting impact on our environment and our community. A Culture of Appreciation from Within Our employees are the backbone of everything we do. Their hard work, commitment, and pride in service ensure that our communities remain clean, safe, and sustainable. That’s why we make it a priority to recognize and celebrate them, not just during special occasions, but all year long. Throughout the year, we bring our team together in meaningful ways. Each October, we host a Customer Appreciation Day, sharing a meal and time together. In December, we celebrate the holiday season with a festive lunch. More recently, we’ve introduced a June tradition in honor of National Waste and Recycling Workers Week, where our office staff fires up the grill to serve hot dogs, chips and drinks to our collections and recycling teams. Just a small but heartfelt thank you for the essential work they do every day. Beyond these gatherings, we continue the celebration year- round. Summer brings an employee picnic filled with food, games, and prizes, while the holiday season includes the distribution of Thanksgiving turkeys and Christmas hams as tokens of our gratitude. We also make it a point to recognize staff achievements through internal communications, an employee Shout Out program and social media, ensuring every team member feels seen, valued, and appreciated. Celebrating Sustainability Across Our Community That same spirit of appreciation extends beyond our organization and into the broader community through our Centre County Green Community Partnership Program. Established in 2014, this initiative honors local businesses, schools, and organizations that demonstrate exceptional commitment to sustainability through efforts like waste reduction, recycling, composting, energy conservation, and reuse. Every two years, applicants share their sustainability efforts, which are reviewed by a panel of experts. Those selected are recognized not only at a special Awards Luncheon, but also throughout the year in our publications, website, and social media. We are proud to recognize the 2026 Centre County Green Community Partners; 38 outstanding organizations whose work is helping to build a greener future. From small businesses to nonprofits, schools to municipalities, each partner c eLeBrating the P eoPLe W ho m ake a d ifference By Amy Schirf, Education Coordinator, Centre County Recycling and Refuse Authority