Kent Kovalenko (ORAP Partner) has been an avid conservationist for as long as he can remember. Much of that behavior was inspired by his grandma. “She threw nothing out. Any container she would get, she would find a useful purpose for. I have two quilts made from her old dresses because she didn’t believe in throwing clothes away,” he recalls.

As Solid Waste Manager for Okanogan County Public Works, Kovalenko continues to lead with his grandmother's legacy in mind. He does this by helping implement creative solutions for recycling and waste management. Recently, he helped Public Works spearhead a new initiative for sustainable green waste management that offers free chipping for yard waste as an alternative to burning.

This new initiative reflects a community-wide effort to improve air quality throughout Okanogan County. It is made possible by support from multiple agencies, partnerships, community members, and $2 million in grants from Ecology.