Award-winning project keeps hard-to-recycle materials out of landfills
In recognition of drop-off hard-to-recycle collection events — which collected nearly one-half million pounds of material in 2024 – Pennsylvania Resources Council (PRC) has received the Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence.
“At PRC we work hard every day to prevent waste and conserve the environment,” said PRC Deputy Director Sarah Alessio Shea. “We are proud of our hard-to-recycle program, which for two decades has offered opportunities to responsibly dispose of materials not accepted curbside. Its success is one example of our environmental impact in Pennsylvania.”
Last year PRC’s hard-to-recycle program served 6,000 households who attended events. In 2024, the program collected 386,000 pounds of electronic devices, 49,000 pounds of small appliances, 36,000 pounds of tires, and 1,410 pounds of polystyrene.
“It’s important to divert these materials from landfills since many contain toxic elements that can leach into our waterways or introduce dangerous toxic chemicals into our environment, while others contain valuable recyclable resources,” according to PRC Collection Events Manager Joshua Schuneman. “By attending PRC events, people know that their materials are properly and safely handled, recycled, and even reused if possible.”
Awardees were evaluated for their degree of environmental protection, innovation, partnership, economic impact, consideration of climate change, sustainability, and environmental justice, as well as outcomes achieved.
“Honorees embody the innovative thinking needed to protect our environment and shape a more sustainable future here in Pennsylvania,” said DEP Acting Secretary Jessica Shirley. “These projects showcase our ability to work collaboratively to preserve and protect Pennsylvania’s natural resources.”
Since launching its hard-to-recycle program in 2003, PRC and partners have facilitated the safe management of 4,220,000 pounds of e-waste in addition to tires, Freon appliances, fluorescent tubes and other materials not accepted in curbside recycling. View PRC’s schedule of 2025 collection events.
PRC’s hard-to-recycle collection campaign is staffed by a dedicated crew of volunteers and is sponsored by Allegheny County Health Department, Allegheny County Parks Department, City of Pittsburgh, Delaware County, Delaware County Parks & Recreation, Colcom Foundation, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, 11 Cares, Pennsylvania American Water, Quaker Valley Council of Governments, Styropek, 90.5 WESA and 91.3 WYEP in partnership with Appliance Warehouse, eLoop LLC, Liberty Tire and Reworld.
CLICK HERE to learn more about PRC’s hard-to-recycle program.