First Star Recycling Named 2026 Business of the Year!

We are proud to share that First Star Recycling was named Tobacco Education & Advocacy of the Midlands 2026 Business of the Year!

The award was accepted by Patrick Leahy, CEO, and Michelle Volkman, our Director of Human Resources, recognized for their work with employees promoting a tobacco-free workplace and supporting employees who want to quit smoking through education, encouragement, and quit kits.

Our good friend Bellevue City Councilman Don Priester received the Advocate of the Year award for his on-going advocacy of non-smoking spaces, and he promoted the orange renew program in his acceptance speech!!

The event was Zero Waste, with plastic cups collected for recycling into Solutions Plastic Lumber ReClaim™ Plastic Lumber, as well as all food materials and scraps collected for composting - giving those materials a second life instead of sending them to the landfill.

Congratulations to everyone recognized for making our community healthier and more sustainable!