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Thursday, 12 May 2016 10:17

In Memory

In Memory of:

Kristine M. Anderson

June 26, 1961 - July 7, 1999

1998 Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence

Pennsylvania lost an environmental leader on July 7, 1999 when Kristine Anderson of the Elk County Solid Waste Authority passed away at age 38 after a battle with cancer. Kris was an outspoken proponent of sound, proactive environmental solutions, and she was highly regarded in her community and in environmental circles. She was responsible for the development of a recycling program model in Elk County, which is a unique accomplishment for such a rural area. The programs she developed included backyard composting (almost 10 percent of households county-wide were provided with composting equipment), business recycling, school recycling, newspaper animal bedding, used oil collection, parks recycling and a county-wide drop off program ensuring that all non-mandated areas would have access to recycling.

Kris also was involved in many diverse environmental projects beyond recycling. For the past two years, Kristine had served as co-chairperson of the Elk County Pollution Prevention Roundtable for Business and Industry where she helped to encourage and support local manufacturers in their efforts to reduce environmental impacts.

Another significant environmental project heavily influenced by Kris’ energy and determination is the powder metal initiative. This is a highly successful pollution prevention project designed to reduce emissions from one of the largest manufacturing industries in Elk County. Kris also was instrumental in bringing together agency and industry efforts for the future remediation of the St. Marys Landfill site, an abandoned landfill with adjacent lands earmarked for recreational and educational reuse. She also was influential in moving forward plans for a regional composting, biosolids and organic recycling facility to divert tons of the area’s organic materials waste from the landfill.

In 1998, Kris won the prestigious Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. (See link above) Through the award, Gov. Tom Ridge gave recognition to Kris’ leadership in recycling and market development. Through her leadership, Elk County now has a progressive, exemplary infrastructure to handle its waste issues and a roadmap to an environmentally sound future.

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