Navy Whidbey Recycle at NAS Whidbey Island received a national award for waste reduction today at the 2004 Keep America Beautiful National Awards ceremony.

Keep America Beautiful President G. Raymond Empson presented the award in recognition of outstanding programs that minimize the impact of waste and promoted responsible waste handling during Keep America Beautiful’s 51st annual National Conference in Washington, D.C.

“Our winners represent the wide scope of accomplishments and many of the best practices among our national Network of Affiliates and participating organizations,” said Empson. “Through their involvement in educating and involving citizens, government and businesses in their community improvement initiatives, these award-winning programs serve as powerful catalysts in keeping America beautiful across the entire nation, one community at a time.”

The 2004 Keep America Beautiful National Awards for Waste Reduction first-place winners are:

-- Government Agencies: Navy Whidbey Recycle NAS Whidbey Island, Oak

Harbor, Wash., Paul Brewer, environmental protection specialist

-- Business and Professional Organizations: Dell, Inc., Round Rock,

Texas, Carolyn Dietz, public affairs

-- Nonprofit, Civic and Community Organizations: Keep Liberty County

Beautiful, Hinesville, Ga., Jennifer Flournoy, executive director

-- Youth Groups/Schools: Potter Street Elementary, Bainbridge, Ga., Julie Warr, special education teacher

“This award was accepted on behalf of all the NAS Whidbey squadrons and activities who contribute to the program to make it the best around,” said NAS Whidbey’s Paul Brewer, solid waste management director.

In addition to the first-place award-winners in this category, Keep America Beautiful also recognized 80 other organizations and individuals for their achievements in promoting litter prevention, recycling, community improvement and environmental stewardship.

The complete list may be viewed at http://www.kab.org{{PERIOD}}

Keep America Beautiful, Inc., is a national nonprofit education and community improvement organization whose network of nearly 1,000 affiliate and participating organizations engages individuals in programs that prevent litter and reduce, reuse, recycle and properly manage waste materials.

Through partnerships and strategic alliances with citizens, businesses and government, its programs motivate millions of volunteers annually to clean up, beautify and improve their neighborhoods, creating safer and more livable community environments.