Recycle Ann Arbor recently recognized Ann Arbor-based Bank of Ann Arbor with its Business Recycling Leadership Award. The award recognizes outstanding recycling and sustainability efforts on the part of Ann Arbor businesses. Bank of Ann Arbor is only the fourth organization to receive the honor since its inception in 2009.

Winning the Business Recycling Leadership Award requires considerable effort and dedication on the part of all of the company's employees. In order to earn the award, businesses must meet a long list of criteria.

To qualify for consideration, a business must be located in the city of Ann Arbor, and receive recycling services from Recycle Ann Arbor. It must recycle a high percentage of waste, as verified by a waste and recycling audit, and have a designated staff person or green team that coordinates recycling.

In addition, the business must recycle special items, such as printer cartridges or fluorescent light bulbs, offer recycling education to employees, and be involved in at least three sustainable practices, such as green purchasing, zero waste efforts, or energy efficiency programs.

Bank of Ann Arbor is a wholly owned subsidiary of Arbor Bancorp, Inc., a locally owned and managed financial service holding company. It is Ann Arbor's only local bank, with six branches.

From April 1, 2008, through April 30, 2010, Bank of Ann Arbor recycled 18,936 pounds of paper and cardboard, and 11,502 pounds of mixed containers. In addition to paper, cardboard, cans and bottles, Bank of Ann Arbor also recycles batteries, toner cartridges, fluorescent light bulbs, Styrofoam and shopping bags.

Bank of Ann Arbor President Timothy Marshall is the driving force behind the organization's outstanding recycling program, said Assistant Vice President Rhonda Foxworth.

"At Bank of Ann Arbor, the recycling culture starts at the top, and is championed throughout the company by 100 employees throughout our six locations," said Foxworth. "When the president actively promotes waste reduction and recycling to minimize the company's impact on the environment, it paves the way for everyone to participate."

Bank of Ann Arbor has an Employee Activity Team, which meets to discuss projects such as improving the office recycling program, and providing better sustainable services to customers at all bank branches, including online banking and electronic statements. In addition, and internal website provides articles on sustainability practices and waste reduction in the office environment.

To promote its new electronic statement program for customers, Bank of Ann Arbor recently pledged that for each new customer who signed up for the service, it would donate $10 to local environmental efforts. The proceeds were donated to the Ann Arbor Rotary Club to fund tree replanting in local Ann Arbor parks.

For more information about Recycle Ann Arbor's Business Recycling Leadership Award, contact Lisa Perschke, Recycle Ann Arbor's business recycling coordinator, at 734-662-6288 or lisap@recycleannarbor.org.

Jean Brown is the communications manager for Recycle Ann Arbor. She can be reached at jbrown@recycleannarbor.org. Visit www.recycleannarbor.org for more information on easy and convenient recycling for the home and workplace.

Your World provides local environmental information to our community. Contributing partners include: Washtenaw County's Environmental Health Division; the nonprofit Recycle Ann Arbor; the City of Ann Arbor's Public Services Area, Natural Area Preservation, Systems Planning programs for Energy, Environmental Coordination, Solid Waste, Transportation, and Water Resources.