Robin Bates-Mason, Senator Richard Blumenthal, Katie Owsley, and John Kriz pose for a photograph during the Aquarion Water Company’s Environmental Champion Awards ceremony held on June 1 at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Planet New Canaan, represented by Bates-Mason, Owsley, and Kriz, received the award in the non-profit category for their exemplary volunteer efforts in environmental conservation and sustainability. The award, presented by Senator Blumenthal, includes a $5,000 grant and recognizes the organization’s impactful initiatives such as Christmas tree recycling, Halloween pumpkin collections, native tree planting, food scrap composting, and the Swap Shop program, which promotes reuse and reduces landfill waste.
By Anne White
Aquarion Water Company celebrated the recipients of its 2024 Environmental Champion Awards in a ceremony held on June 1 at Connecticut’s Beardsley Zoo. Among the honorees was New Canaan’s Planet New Canaan, a local environmental and sustainability charity, recognized for its outstanding volunteer efforts in conserving and improving the natural environment.
Planet New Canaan received the Environmental Champion award in the non-profit category, accompanied by a $5,000 grant. Board President Robin Bates-Mason, along with Board members Katie Owsley and John J. Kriz, accepted the award on behalf of the organization. John J. Kriz expressed the organization’s gratitude, stating, “Planet New Canaan is honored to receive this recognition from Aquarion for our continuing sustainability efforts to benefit our town, Connecticut, and the world as a whole. We look forward to doing even more in the years ahead.”
Aquarion cited several key initiatives undertaken by Planet New Canaan that contributed to their selection. These included Christmas tree recycling, Halloween pumpkin collections and donations to local farms, collaboration with New Canaan’s Department of Public Works to purchase and plant native trees, food scrap composting efforts, and the successful Swap Shop. The Swap Shop program plays a crucial role in keeping usable items out of landfills by finding new homes for them.
“We are particularly proud of our TreeCycle and Pumpkins for Livestock programs,” said Robin Bates-Mason. “These initiatives tackle the annual issue of holiday waste by sending used Christmas trees to be mulched and old jack-o-lanterns to feed livestock. It’s a simple yet effective way to repurpose what would otherwise end up in a landfill.”
Katie Owsley highlighted their collaborative efforts with the local government, “Our partnership with New Canaan’s Department of Public Works has been instrumental in our native tree planting initiative. This collaboration not only enhances our town’s green spaces but also promotes biodiversity and supports local wildlife.”
Aquarion Water Company, with its tagline “stewards of the environment,” emphasizes the importance of protecting the environment to ensure quality water resources. According to Aquarion, the Environmental Champion Awards program serves to spotlight the achievements of individuals and organizations dedicated to environmental protection, inspiring others to follow suit.
Donald Morrissey, President of Aquarion Water Company, praised the award recipients, saying, “The tireless dedication of this year’s award recipients has truly made a remarkable impact on the preservation of Connecticut’s land and waterways. They have set an excellent example for their communities, and I am eager to see what they accomplish in the future.”
Other recipients included M&T Bank, recognized for their significant environmental investments, including $671 million in environmental loans and a 23% reduction in electricity consumption; Earth Animal, honored for their strides in reducing the pet industry’s environmental impact, with initiatives like transitioning plastic packaging to recyclable, refillable, or compostable materials by 2025; Betsy Graham, a dedicated conservationist involved in multiple environmental organizations and projects, including efforts to restore fish habitats and educate children on environmental conservation; and Nathaniel Goldschmidt, an Eagle Scout and high school student who led numerous environmental initiatives, including a compost program and a can and bottle recycling program.
