DEQ’s Wallace Awarded Recycler of the Year Award

Sonja Wallace, an 18-year veteran at the Department of Environmental Quality, received the Recycler of the Year Award from the Recycling Coalition of Utah at a June 8 recycling conference and e-waste summit held in Sandy.

Brad Mertz, executive director of Recycling Coalition of Utah (RCU), recognized Wallace for her enthusiasm and commitment to recycling. “She’s a huge advocate,” he said, “and a founding member of RCU.”

Wallace, the pollution prevention coordinator in the Office of Planning and Public Affairs (OPPA), is the recycling coordinator for DEQ. She, however, began her career in 1988 as an environmental scientist for the Division of Solid and Hazardous Waste. It was Rusty Lundberg, branch manager for DSHS, who hired her.

“I hired her for her enthusiasm,” Lundberg said. “She has always been focused on recycling. Sonja always finds ways to bring larger groups together and make it happen.”

In 1990, she made recycling a full time job in OPPA, along with other responsibilities that include working with the public and businesses on solutions to reduce the amount of pollutants that end up in landfills or the environment.

Leah Ann Lamb, director of OPPA, lauded Wallace for her ability to work with businesses, government and environmental groups to get projects off the ground.

“Sonja has an ability to work collaboratively with stakeholders in pollution prevention projects that have produced results,” said Lamb. “This award is recognition she truly deserves.”

Wallace said she’s just grateful to be recognized for a job she truly loves.

“I really am honored and pleased to get this award,” she said. “It’s for something that I’m very passionate about doing.”

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