George Hayducsko, solid waste and recycling coordinator for Dunn County, received the West Central Wisconsin Natural Resources Award April 18th during the Dunn County Board meeting in Menomonie.
Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Secretary Scott Hassett and Regional Director Scott Humrickhouse presented the award on behalf of the employees in the 19-county West Central Region.
The award is presented annually to the individual or nonprofit organization that employees feel has done the most to enhance the environment. Nominations for the award are made by employees in the West Central Region of Wisconsin and the final selection of the award recipient is made by a committee of individuals representing all agency divisions and geographic areas in the 19-county area.
Hayducsko was nominated for the award for his outstanding initiative in assisting the DNR and the Department of Justice with cleanup of Poromeric Plastic recycling company in the Town of Rock Creek, Dunn County.
The recycling company acquired the former Grandview School, about two and one-half miles west of Rock Falls, to use as a storage and processing facility. The plastic stored at the site was not adequately confined, however, and wind-blown plastic became a problem in the neighborhood.
The volume of plastic at the site also presented a potential fire hazard. In addition, rodents were living in the accumulated plastic and pooled water at the facility which provided a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Hayducsko, working with the DNR and Department of Justice, took over a cleanup of the area after the property was placed in receivership by the Dunn County Court.
He arranged for 11 semi-loads of baled plastic and four roll-off bins of metal to be shipped from the site, bringing in more than $70,000 and removing more than 170 tons of recyclables. He also arranged for 16 loads of garbage, weighing more than 103 tons, to be delivered to a landfill and for nearly four tons of tires to be recycled.
The work Hayducsko did recovered value from the property, paid for the cleanup, provided funds to repay a recycling demonstration grant and returned dollars to the local township. To accomplish the work, he took on the task of reclaiming the property in addition to his normal job, and worked long hours to help resolve a local problem.
Hayducsko has served for the last 10 years in his current position in Dunn County. He served earlier in similar positions in St. Croix County and in Oneida County. He is a past president of the Midwest Recycling Association as well as the Wisconsin County Solid Waste Managers Association.
Hayducsko resides in Menomonie with his wife, Judy, and their children.
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