COLUMBUS, OH -- Organizations, businesses, volunteers, students and government agencies from across Ohio were honored for their local efforts in recycling, waste reduction and litter prevention at the tenth annual Community Pride & Partnership Awards ceremony in Columbus. The Community Pride & Partnership Awards are sponsored by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR).

"This annual awards program gives ODNR the opportunity to recognize and thank Ohio's best in recycling and litter prevention," said Ron Kolbash, chief of the ODNR Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention. "This year's award recipients reflect the high quality and level of commitment of the state's many recycling and litter prevention programs."

The ODNR Division of Recycling & Litter Prevention recognizes outstanding achievement in two categories: Plant Pride, Not Litter and Recycle, Ohio! The awards program recognizes individuals, groups, agencies and organizations committed to recycling, litter prevention and source reduction. It also honors recipients for innovative recycling and litter prevention projects that benefit Ohio communities.

Anna Cresswell, a teacher at Hardin Northern High School in Hardin County, was named the Outstanding Educator in Ohio. She has been an advocate of incorporating environmental issues into classroom curriculums and has proven to be a positive influence to her students, school and community.

In addition, four Ohio businesses received Achievements in Excellence Awards for their contributions to Ohio's recycling industry. They are Phoenix Technologies, LP of Wood County, Evergreen Plastics of Sandusky County, Advanced Fiber Technologies of Crawford County and Groundscape Technologies, LLC of Cuyahoga County.