Archive: September 19, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2019

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting nominations for the 2020 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards for companies or institutions that have developed a new process or product that helps protect public health and the environment.

“The Green Chemistry Challenge is an opportunity for EPA to recognize the latest and greatest in green chemistry innovations in chemical design, manufacture, and use,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn. “Innovations in green chemistry are an important component of pollution prevention efforts and keeping American businesses competitive in markets around the world. These innovations can turn waste materials into marketable commodities, reduce costs through material efficiency, and open new markets for products and services.”

Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce both the generation and use of chemicals that are hazardous to the environment and people’s health. Nominations for innovative technologies featuring the design of greener chemicals and products, greener chemical syntheses and reactions, or greener chemical processes are due to the agency by December 31, 2019. EPA anticipates giving awards to outstanding green chemistry technologies in five categories next June.

Since the inception of the awards more than two decades ago, EPA has received more than 1600 nominations and presented awards to 118 technologies, which reduced the use or generation of hundreds of millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals and saved billions of gallons of water and trillions of BTUs in energy.

An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute will formally judge the 2020 nominations and make recommendations to EPA for the 2020 winners.

More information on past award winners and how to submit entries can be found at: www.epa.gov/greenchemistry.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 18, 2019

CARSON CITY, Nev. – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is celebrating Pollution Prevention Week by highlighting partners and projects that help businesses be more competitive and sustainable. Pollution prevention means reducing or eliminating sources of pollution at the source to prevent damage to the environment while also eliminating the need for costly controls and cleanup.

Western Nevada College (WNC) and greenUP!, a Nevada nonprofit, have teamed up to launch a statewide Green Business recognition program. In the planning stages for more than two years, WNC received $180,000 in pollution prevention grant funds from EPA in 2018 to get the program off the ground. With funding in hand, the public-private partnership looks to recognize its first businesses in early 2020.

WNC and greenUp! are adapting a demonstrated model used by similar programs in six states and dozens of local governments nationwide. The program works with businesses to go beyond basic compliance. It provides assistance and recognition for making voluntary changes to reduce energy and water consumption, generation of solid and hazardous waste, and use of toxic materials. Once certified, the program publicizes participating businesses through a searchable online directory, recognition events, and a statewide marketing campaign. 

“Pollution prevention is key to saving our natural resources and moving toward sustainability,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker. “Nevada businesses will soon have a way to be recognized for doing good for the planet, while also improving up their bottom line.”

“This program has been proven to help businesses improve environmental performance while cutting waste and cost,” said Donna Walden, program coordinator and president of greenUp!. “Nevada has amazing businesses who want and deserve recognition for their impressive environmental commitments, and we want to help more businesses make the changes needed to get that recognition.”

GreenUp! is coordinating the effort and leveraging the talents and resources of WNC to help businesses participate in the program. WNC staff and students will be trained in pollution prevention practices and will provide technical assistance and phone support to businesses seeking certification.

“The Green Business Program advances WNC’s core values and Sustainability Policy, and there are many learning possibilities for students to get work-based experience,” says Georgia White, project director for the grant and director of professional and technical education for WNC. “WNC has a commitment to workforce development, particularly in manufacturing jobs, and we want to encourage all businesses to consider their environmental impact while streamlining their operations.”

The Nevada Green Business Program works with businesses of all types, such as food production companies, property managers, breweries, lodging facilities, distilleries and restaurants. The program will track business adoption of practices using the GreenBiz tracker, an online tool developed in California and now used across the country. The tool allows programs and businesses to convert adopted practices into environmental results, such as greenhouse gas emissions reduced, energy saved, gallons of water saved, tons of waste diverted from landfills and hazardous materials reduced.

In addition to EPA funding, the Nevada Green Business Program depends on partners in the public and private sector to succeed. Current partners include the Washoe County Health District, the City of Reno, the University of Nevada Reno Business Environmental Program, the Truckee Meadows Water Authority, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection, and Sustainability Partners of Northern Nevada – all of whom play key roles in helping businesses become green. The Nevada onboarding effort is also receiving support from the California Green Business Program and the Green Business Engagement National Network.

EPA is featuring successful green business projects to celebrate Pollution Prevention Week, Sept. 16-20, 2019.

For more information on the Nevada Green Business Program, businesses should contact greenUp! at [email protected]

Find out more about P2 Week at https://www.epa.gov/p2week.

Learn more about EPA’s Pacific Southwest Region. Connect with us on Facebook and on Twitter.

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