The Environment and Infrastructure Committee of the regional district paid homage to two envrionmentally minded residents of the regional district at the committee meeting on October 4.
Philip Watson of Summerland and Elisabeth Rettke of Sunkatchers RV Resort west of Keremeos were feted for their volunteerism in educating RDOS residents on proper composting and recycling methods.
The committee was faced with a motion to both recognize them for their volunteer efforts and award them the designation of “RDOS Master Composter / Recycler, something only two other regional district volunteers have received.
Philip Watson attended the Master Composter/Recycler workshop hosted by the RDOS in 2010. He was the proprietor of Green Yard Centre in Summerland where he promoted and educated people on a wide variety of different composting equipment.
Philip also assisted in the construction of a compost bin at the Penticton Community garden and provided public information on composting at the Summerland Fall Fair and at other public events.
Elisabeth Rettke attended the Master Composter/Recycler workshop in 2011. The Sunkatchers resident has provided a number of workshops for residents while helping maintain the RV park’s composting and recycling programs.
Rettke regularly visits the RDOS office in Penticton to get fresh flyers on new recycling programs for her presentations in the Sunkatchers clubhouse.
“These people are setting a standard for volunteers in the community,” Electoral Area “D” Director Tom Siddon observed, while Oliver rural Director Allan Patton noted that the RDOS curbside and waste reduction programs were amongst the most progressive in the province.
The committee voted unanimously in favour of the motion.