PA Environment Digest

Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker, on behalf of Gov. Tom Corbett, Wednesday recognized two local government organizations and three local officials in Central Pennsylvania for their dedication and leadership in strengthening the surrounding communities.

“Serving as local government officials you face important issues everyday and are tasked with developing solutions,” Walker said. “Today we celebrate and recognize your hard work; Pennsylvania communities are fortunate to have dedicated individuals whose commitment helps create better places to live and work.”

-- The Triple Divide Watershed Coalition, Potter County, was recognized in the category of “Building Community Partnerships” for its work to improve water resources. The coalition is comprised of the county’s nine public water supplies and numerous county agencies and organizations working collectively to identify efficiencies, lower operational costs, and protect public drinking water resources. The coalition collaboratively developed the state’s first approved “source water protection plan” for all public water supplies in the county.

-- The City of Philadelphia was recognized in the category of “innovative community and governmental initiatives” for the city’s BigBelly Solar intelligent waste and recycling collection system in Center City. In 2009, with assistance from the Department of Community and Economic Development, the City of Philadelphia replaced waste baskets with BigBelly Solar compacting litter baskets and recycling containers. The initiative helped reduce weekly trash collection from 17 times a week to 2.5, saving $1 million in annual collection costs. The program was recognized by the Climate Leadership Group as a global “best practice” in the waste category.

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