Environmentally Speaking

Melodi Deaver, administrative specialist in the Hazardous Waste Section’s Compliance Branch, is one of three finalists for the Division of Waste Management’s Employee of the Year Award, the recipients of which are nominated by fellow colleagues who have gone above-and-beyond in their service to the public and the regulated community, while striving to showcase the mission of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

Update: View the panel discussion here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1hjL7oF2PY As North Carolina deals with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence and the impacts of storm-related flooding, several state and national organizations are considering the long-term outlook for the coastal region.

Approximately $1.2 million in grant funds from three divisions since 1993 has helped develop Pasquotank County’s solid waste and recycling program into a top-notch, comprehensive program. Pasquotank County provides solid waste and recycling services for nearly 50,000 residents who work in northeastern North Carolina and the Hampton Roads area of Virginia. Its comprehensive program serves a rural area and provides collection of bulk waste, yard waste, scrap metal, refrigerant and municipal solid waste as well as recycling collection and processing for a wide-variety of materials.

Tony Pendola, who serves as the Department of Environmental Quality’s Small Business ombudsman, has worked for the department for more than 20 years, receiving accolades for his commitment to protecting North Carolina’s natural resources while assisting small businesses meet environmental regulations. In 2014, he was on a team that won the Governor’s Award for saving North Carolina Citizens tens of millions of dollars each year on unnecessary special summertime gasoline blends.