Grace Proszynska has been Valley Waste's Bylaw enforcement officer since
1999. She is more than qualified for the job since she holds both Master of Science
and environmental engineering degrees. Valley Waste has a strong education and awareness
program that gives the Valley Region have one of the highest waste diversion rates in the province.
But if education attempts fail, Grace is called in to enforce the municipal waste-resource management bylaws. Grace's attention to detail means that she thoroughly prepares her case, working late hours on illegal dumping issues and looking for clues to prosecute offenders. Grace prefers to educate the offender rather than simply issue tickets for bylaw infractions. In the past year Grace has handled 120 cases. Most were handled successfully through education, but six resulted in fines being laid. The most significant cases involved court convictions for a landlord who refused to provide an area for recycling and garbage for tenants and a student who refused to separate and recycle his waste.

Grace's initiative in protecting the environment by cracking down on illegal dumping and enforcing the Valley Waste Solid Waste-Resource Management Bylaws is to be commended.

Grace Proszynska accepted the RRFB Nova Scotia Mobius Environmental Award for Individual Excellence in Waste Management.