Dan Thorington, recycling guru, in Islands & Ocean’s central recycling consolidating area. USFWS

Dan Thorington, recycling manager and building custodian for Alaska Maritime National Wildlife Refuge, was hornored in Washington D.C. in December, 2008, as one of 10 nation-wide winners of the Department of the Interior’s Environmental Achievement Awards.  The awards recognize individuals whose best practices should be implemented across the nation.  Deputy Secretary Lynn Scarlett honored Thorington for his extraordinary recycling program which diverts more than 80% of the solid waste produced at Alaska Islands & Ocean Visitor Center in Homer.

Thorington has a passion for recycling and green living.  He made it is personal mission to ensure one of Homer’s biggest buildings would not become one of Homer’s biggest waste producers.  The 37,000 square foot Islands & Ocean Visitor Center, the Service’s largest visitor center in Alaska, hosts 60,000 visitors and dozens of meetings, seminars and events annually.  It is also the office for 40 employees of the Alaska Maritime Refuge, Kachemak Bay Research Reserve and the non-profit Alaska Geographic.  Through meticulous record keeping, Thorington learned the Center generated over 10,000 lbs of waste per year.  Since Thorington came on board in 2004, 37,000 pounds of waste including cardboard, paper, glass, plastics, electronics and compost materials, have been recycled.   For his efforts, the Islands & Ocean Center won Green Star Award Certification last spring.

To reduce building waste and divert waste from the landfill into reuse, Thorington came up with a multi-pronged approach to change the behavior of visitors and office workers alike and locate outlets for Center waste.  He created recycling guides, posters, and newsletters  emphasizing reduce, reuse and recycle.  He's deployed multi-binned recycling and waste cans in key areas inside and outside of the building and even maintains compost collection bins in the lunch room and meeting rooms.  Each office has its own paper recycling bin.  Thorington even found homes for pernicious plastic peanuts as packing materials at local art galleries.  He has persuaded meeting planners to stop using plastic disposable water bottles in favor of water pitchers and glasses.

When Thorington couldn’t find official outlets for waste materials he came up with creative solutions, often on his own time.  He takes compost home to his own compost pile and delivers steel cans which can’t be recycled in Homer to a facility in Soldotna, 70 miles away,  when he has other business in that area.  An artist, Thorington used cast-off construction materials to craft a donations box for the Center featuring a life-sized oystercatcher.

Dan’s influence goes beyond the building as he has become the go-to guy in Homer for recycling issues sought for advice by organizations including Homer Police Department and South Peninsula Hospital.  He forged a partnership with Cook Inlet Keeper, Kenai Peninsula Solid Waste and numerous businesses to co-sponsor an annual electronics recycling event in Homer and recently wrote an editorial for a local paper on recycling.

Refuge Manager Greg Siekaniec called Dan “the conscience of the refuge.” He noted,  “We are all in the conservation business so saving resources and the side benefits of recycling, reducing carbon emissions and pollution, is important to all of us but Dan knows what we throw away and can help us make the right choice.”

Thorington doesn’t rest on his laurels.  He recently sent a newsletter to the staff challenging them to increase the diversion rate from the current 80% to 90%.  Dan’s tips of the month?  Buy a mug, double-side your printing, make a lunch and reuse bags.