If you haven’t heard the name Hunter Norwood, you need to. He isn’t the president of a country or large corporation. He isn’t the lead singer in a band. But he may be doing more than either to promote positive change in Maine and the world.
Hunter recently received the 2016 Eco-Excellence Award from ecomaine at their awards luncheon in Portland. Hunter has led an effort to increase recycling not only in his home but also in his school and in the homes of many of his relatives who live in or near him in Manchester.
Lots of people are concerned about the state of the environment and focus their efforts on recycling both in their homes and in their communities. But not a lot of them are 4 years old when they start.
Hunter first became interested in recycling when he visited the recycling station in town, a station painted to look like a school bus. Today, Hunter is five years old, and he has taken his interest in recycling on the road. He collects recycled materials from his relatives every week for transport to the recycling station. He’s also begun educating his peers about the need and importance of recycling and keeps his teachers on their toes when it comes to ensuring the recycling bins are emptied in a timely manner.
According to a story about Hunter in the Kennebec Journal, he has even discussed recycling with the Facility Manager at ecomaine and impressed the professional recycler with his knowledge and interest. Hunter is an inspiration to all of us who want to ensure our air, water and soil are left improved by each of us. He’s doing important work and is very deserving of the eco-Excellence Award.
Congratulations Hunter!
Our sustainability radar is always on, and we love to share. Do you have information about a great project helping to make Maine a more sustainable place to call home that you would like to see featured on NRCM’s blog? Guest posts and alerts about interesting sustainability stories are always welcome! If it is good news for our environment and involves Maine or Mainers, it belongs in the spotlight. Please contact Sarah Lakeman, NRCM Sustainable Maine Project Director at slakeman@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0170 or Ryan Parker, NRCM Environmental Policy Outreach Coordinator at rparker@nrcm.org or (207) 430-0144.
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