The Commission for a Clean County (C.C.C.), with co-sponsors Haywood Vocational Opportunities and Joey’s Pancake House, has announced the winners of its first annual Business Community Awards Program. The awards are in recognition of Haywood businesses which have demonstrated outstanding commitment to good waste management practices, recycling, pollution prevention and beautification.

A group of C.C.C. judges — plus two external judges — evaluated applications and made actual site visits to each business. Winners were chosen based on: success of their innovative practices, environmental benefits and commitment by owners and employees to good practices.

The four winning businesses are Twinbrook Resort in Maggie Valley; Mill Race Mercantile in Waynesville; Blue Ridge Paper in Canton; and Classy Glass in Waynesville. Each of these businesses was judged to be deeply committed to recycling waste, managing litter control well and beautifying their environment, both inside and outside their premises.

Two businesses to receive Honorable Mention are the Great Southern Trading Company in Canton and the Frog Level Merchants Association in Waynesville.

Twinbrook Resort collects recyclables from their 15 cottages and 2 houses. There are also recycling collection containers at their pool and recreation area, as well as in their office.

Mill Race Mercantile restored a completely derelict building on Depot Street in Frog Level. Part of the restoration effort included removing contaminated soil and planting a cottage-style herb and flower garden. The bank of the mill race was stabilized, as it suffered from considerable stream erosion and a gravel parking lot was built which allowed for percolation of ground water.

In the last 10 years, Blue Ridge Paper has invested over half a billion dollars to clean up and improve their process. As a result, the Canton Mill is a “minimum impact” mill with world-class environmental performance. In the next five years, the mill will spend up to a$76 million to reduce nitrogen emissions and improving water quality of the Pigeon River.

Classy Glass, which produces artistic glass products, recycles all their waste from sand-blasting to maximize the life span of the medium. They have developed a line of small items called “suncatchers” to further minimize waste glass and even use the scrap glass of other companies to make these suncatchers. To wrap their products, they use the end rolls of local newspapers, paper that otherwise would be scrap. When their quality control department declares a product as a “second,” the company gives it away to a needy family, a fine example of using recycling to benefit others.

The four winners and two recipients of honorable mention will be written up in the Haywood County Chamber of Commerce November newsletter. They will be formally honored and receive their plaques and certificates at a special Awards Luncheon hosted by the C.C.C. on Tuesday, Dec. 4, at the Waynesville Country Club. Further, at the joint Haywood/ Maggie Valley Chambers Christmas party on Dec. 6, the winners and honorable mentions will be announced and congratulated.

On Oct. 18 in Morganton, the Commission for a Clean County received a 2001 Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service. The organization is dedicated to helping their neighbors by helping to improve the cleanliness of the county.

 

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The Smoky Mountain News