The city leader who is responsible for overseeing Lawrence’s recycling efforts has accepted a job in Spokane, Wash.

Mollie Mangerich, the city’s waste reduction and recycling supervisor, pictured above, will leave Friday. Mangerich, who has worked for the city for 11 years, will be working for the city of Spokane as its director of solid waste systems.

Mangerich came to Lawrence from the Spokane area, where she completed her graduate work. During her tenure in Lawrence, Mangerich’s division was responsible for establishing the cardboard and office paper recycling program for businesses, launched the annual Home Energy Conservation Fair, and increased the number of cardboard and newspaper recycling bins in the community.

The city also posted a recycling rate – 33 percent in 2005 – that was consistently above the national average and among the highest in the state.

“Even though our population grows and the amount of waste grows, our recycling rates also grow,” Mangerich said. “The history of this community really has been to always take a lot of pride in itself.”