KOR Appreciation Awards
2012
Upon his retirement in 2012 as Director of Southeast Kansas Recycling in Pittsburg, Chuck Delp had redefined recycling in SE Kansas. Under his leadership, SEK Recycling grew from a tin-can collection facility to a place that not only takes all traditional recycling but branched into e-waste, hazardous materials, clothing and many, many other items. He even built a home from recycled materials. Chuck was a founding member of KOR and a long-time board member.
2011
As Recycling Coordinator for Sunflower Diversified Services, Sarah Krom was instrumental in developing recycling opportunities in Great Bend and Western Kansas. Under her guidance, Sunflower Diversified found innovative ways to recycle numerous products while providing jobs for individuals with developmental disabilities. Sarah is a founding member of KOR, former President and served many years on the Board of Directors.
2010
As a member of the Stutzman Family, John Stutzman helped bring city-wide and curbside recycling programs to Hutchinson, Kansas and eventually to more than 8 counties through Stutzman Refuse Disposal Inc. John was also a long-time member of the KOR Board of Director’s who helped lead the organization in its early years of formation.
As Operations Manager for International Paper in Wichita, Bridget Lemen has helped support KOR through grant opportunities to the tune of more than $10,000. Her support, along with the International Paper Foundation, has helped KOR improve its annual conferences and offset printing costs.
2009
As Director of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment Bureau of Waste Management, William "Bill" Bider has been a staunch supporter of reducing waste in Kansas and promoting recycling. He has guided KDHE BWM to search for new and innovative ways to increase recycling efforts and reduce waste. Mr. Bider has been a strong supporter of KOR, and because of him KOR and KDHE BWM have a strong, productive working relationship.
Beginning the mid 1980's, Paul and Margaret Miller joined with a few like-minded environmentalists in Wichita to collect recyclables. At first, it was just newspaper, collected on Saturday's in three parking lots in Wichita. That was successful, so they added #1 and #2 plastics. They added cans, and the volume grew. After three years the demand was so large they approached Dillon’s, Waste Connections, and the City of Wichita about placing drop-off containers in Dillon’s parking lots. They became a 501(c)3 non-profit and the City of Wichita provided a vacant buildings. The ProKansas/Miller Recycling Center opened on Clark Street in 2003.