The Recycler of the Year for an Individual is awarded to someone whose actions have significantly reduced solid waste or have furthered recycling, waste prevention and/or reuse. This year's award was presented Bradley Barnhart of Guy Lee Elementary at the 2015 AOR Sustainable Oregon Conference on June 5 in Bend, Oregon. 

Bradley Barnhart is the head custodian at Guy Lee Elementary School in Springfield. He has taken the lead in introducing sustainable practices to the school. He developed the project of collecting plastic bottle caps as a means of getting all students involved regardless of financial resources. Together in November of 2014 they unveiled a beautiful 15,000 plastic cap wall mural to celebrate America Recycles Day. The mural consisted of an underwater coral reef theme as a subtle reminder of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch and our duty to be good stewards of the planet.

Mr. Barnhart has introduced food waste collection and increases recycling in the lunchroom. He designed and had constructed his own sorting table for students at lunch time. His efforts have dramatically reduced the amount of total waste that the school generates. He has also developed a green team of volunteer students to pick up litter and encourage recycling. He chooses a “Green Student of the Week” each week for their sustainable efforts and that student is honored at lunch time. Mr. Barnhart also helped lead Guy Lee Elementary to be national title winners for the 2014 Keep America Beautiful Recycle Bowl competition in the Waste Diversion category.

Check out the Guy Lee Green Team website here.