Seven recipients were given the city’s first Eco Awards on Tuesday in recognition of their ecological accomplishments.

In a ceremony at City Hall, one resident and one business each received awards in the contest’s several categories: energy reduction, use of renewable energy, water efficiency and conservation and in recycling and trash reduction, Marie Knutson, Republic Services recycling coordinator, said.

In addition, one nonprofit organization, Benicia Community Gardens, was named an overall winner for its accomplishments, Knutson said.

Board member Marilyn Bardet called Benicia Community Gardens “a go-get-’em organization” that has been instrumental in outreach as well as in raising crops in an urban environment.

All Eco Award recipients initially received their awards at the City Hall courtyard and were recognized again Tuesday night during the regular City Council meeting. Each also got a $100 gift certificate to First Street Café and a trophy made by Lindsay Art Glass, which used recycled glass in the trophies’ production.

Constance Beutel, the first chairperson of the Benicia Community Sustainability Commission, received the Resident Champion Energy Reduction and Renewable Energy Award.

“Constance has been a beacon for sustainability in Benicia,” Knutson said, adding that Beutel “has been a exemplary example for how to create a nearly net zero home!”

Among Beutel’s energy upgrades to her home — chronicled in her regular column in The Herald — have been improvements to its insulation, the addition of a radiant barrier under its roof, the purchase of a new, energy-efficient water heater and refrigerator, installation of light-emitting diode (LED) lights and sealing her heating and air-conditioning ducts.

She also added solar panels in 2013, which means little of her power comes from the electricity grid, and what she does use comes from the Marin Clean Energy “Deep Green” all-renewable source program, Knutson said.

“She worked tirelessly to bring Marin Clean Energy to Benicia to give customers a choice on where their power comes from,” Knutson added.

Steve and Marty Young received the Water Efficiency and Conservation Award. Knutson said the Youngs “have met the city’s call to conserve water at their home.”

During a major remodeling last year, the couplez installed a graywater system that collects up to 100 gallons of water from showers, bathroom sinks and a new low-flow washing machine.

“The system then pumps the graywater to the front yard, which handles all (their) irrigation needs,” Knutson said.

“No plumber will do graywater,” Steve Young said during the Council meeting, saying those in the industry should look into offering that service.

The Youngs also replaced most of their landscaping with wood mulch, and Knutson said they are “extremely frugal with their use of water.” In addition, they have participated in the Benicia Home Efficiency Program (BHEP), which Knutson said helps them better understand how they are using energy and water in their home.

Chickens play an important part in another residential Eco-Award, Knutson said.

“Mary Lou and John McVeigh have worked tirelessly to reduce waste and recycle,” she said. They have made their home a “complete ecosystem, producing very little trash.”

The McVeighs started with raised garden beds and native Californian drought-resistant plants.

“Next came the chickens,” Knutson said.

“The chickens eat the bugs and any leftover food waste,” she said. “That means the McVeighs don’t produce garbage, and don’t have to use pesticides.

“They also have a share system with the neighbors, exchanging fruits and vegetables for their eggs — no packaging when it’s from your neighbor’s yard!” Knutson said.

Mary Lou McVeigh, an elementary school teacher at Joe Henderson Elementary School, uses her garden and her chickens to teach students about healthy living and biodynamic living, Knutson said.

Among the business Eco Champions named Tuesday, Ponder Environmental was awarded the Energy Reduction and Renewable Energy Award.

“Ponder Environmental is a local environmental and materials management and cleaning contractor that manages fuel transfers and spills, hazardous material cleanups and transportation systems for businesses,” Knutson said.

The company was one of the first in Benicia Industrial Park to participate in the Business Resource Incentive Program (BRIP), a comprehensive sustainable program that offers no-cost assessments, grants and loans for energy, water and clean transit upgrades.

Ponder used a BRIP grant and loan to install a 36-kilowatt, roof-mounted solar system that is expected to reduce annual greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 10.35 metric tons, Knutson said. It also should save the business about $15,000 in utility costs.

“Ponder invested approximately $40,000 of their own resources to complete the project,” she said, and described the company as “a good corporate citizen” that supports many charities in Benicia.

The Corporate Water Efficiency and Conservation Eco-Award went to Pedrotti Ace Hardware, a company that is more than 90 years old and has been in Benicia for much of that time.

Knutson said Pedrotti Ace Hardware participated in the first phase of Benicia’s residential plumbing fixture incentive program by accepting vouchers for efficient toilets, efficient sprinkler heads and irrigation timers.

The store also participated in the city’s graywater kit program, she said.

“Gene stocked all graywater parts so that they were easy to find and accessible,” she said.

“He also downsized the nursery so he did not have to water as much and lobbied his landlord to replace all toilets in shopping center.”

That transition to low-flow toilets is in progress, she said.

“Finally, he educates customers daily on water conservation measures,” she said.

Those include drip systems, toilet leaks, faucet drips and other methods by which residents can take action to reduce water consumption.

Ruszel Woodworks received the Business Recycling and Trash Reduction Eco-Award.

The company salvages its leftover wood pieces and donates them to teachers and elder living centers for re-use in art and crafts and other projects.

The company has been able to donate thousands of dollars’ worth of wood and keep those leftovers out of landfills, Knutson said.

Ed Ruszel, representing the company, said the wood pieces, some no larger than a playing card, are being sent as far away as Phoenix, Ariz., and to places in Idaho.

In keeping with the theme of the awards, the afternoon ceremony was a “zero waste” event, Knutson said.

“There was no trash from the event,” she said. “All food scraps went to John and Mary Lou’s chickens.”

Food was served with what she called “real dishes and utensils,” which eliminated paper and plastic waste.

“The cups were recycled. The napkins were composted. Real fruit-flavored water hydration stations were provided, so no water bottles or sodas were needed.”

The Eco Awards are given by the Green Umbrella Group, a coalition of Benicia organizations and individuals working together on environmentalism and sustainability, Knutson said.

Its work has been funded through a Community Sustainability Commission-recommended grant, as well as support from Arts Benicia and the city of Benicia, Knutson said.

The Eco-Awards themselves are sponsored by Marin Clean Energy, WattzOn and Republic Services, the company that provides garbage and recycling services to Benicia.