The GLRPPR Blog

Nominations now being accepted for:

• Five Years’ Continuous Improvement
• Energy/Renewable Resources
• Greening the Government
• Outreach or Education
• Pollution Prevention
• Recycling/Reuse
• Land Use

The Indiana Governor’s Environmental Excellence Awards recognize exemplary projects across Indiana. Projects must demonstrate significant and measurable results, be innovative, comprehensive and documented.

Who Can Apply?
The awards are open to all Indiana facilities, state and local units of government, individuals, and technical assistance organizations that operate or support environmental protection efforts of  outstanding quality. Eligible technical assistance organizations include, but are not limited to: public entities, educational groups, trade associations, individuals, public interest and community and labor groups. Nominated projects/facilities must be: located in Indiana; focused on significant environmental protection activity; able to provide at least a year of quantifiable results; innovative; voluntary; in compliance with environmental health and safety laws; and, willing to share information with others via state publications or Web sites.

Nominations must be received by IDEM by 5 p.m. EST on Monday, April 20, 2009.

To learn more, call 800.988.7901 or visit http://www.in.gov/idem/5147.htm

After demonstrating long-term compliance with environmental laws and voluntarily agreeing to implement continuous improvements, eight new members have been accepted into the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM’s) Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP).

“These businesses are models for other Hoosier companies and show that sound environmental management is good for business,” said IDEM Commissioner Thomas Easterly. “ESP members voluntarily eliminate waste, preserve resources and protect Hoosiers and the environment. They deserve recognition for going beyond the basic requirements of the law.”

This is the third year of the ESP program, and there are 46 members participating in this initiative. ESP’s newest members include:

• Frito-Lay, Inc., Frankfort, Clinton County

Frito-Lay, Inc. has agreed to install water meters at each process point and implement monitoring activities and process controls to optimize water use, thus reducing water use by 82,765,244 gallons by the end of 2009.

• Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc., Evansville, Vanderburgh County

Guardian Automotive Trim, Inc. is committed to reducing natural gas usage in the plating process boiler by 10 percent in its first year of membership as a result of pre-heating the day tank that returns water to the boiler and reducing the amount of time that water has to cool down, thus maintaining a more consistent water temperature.

• Nishikawa Standard Company, LLC – Bremen Facility, Marshall County

Nishikawa Standard Company, LLC – Bremen Facility is committed to reducing its solid waste during its first year of membership by 8,500 pounds by replacing 23 automated paper towel dispensers with 19 highly-efficient electric hand dryers in an effort to eliminate landfill contributions.

• NOF Jasper 11th Avenue, Jasper, Dubois County

NOF Jasper 11th Avenue has agreed to increase the amount it recycles by 26,920 pounds by the end of 2009 with the creation of a new training program for employees and implementing 5S principles to make separating recyclables more visual for employees.

• NOF Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Spencer County

NOF Santa Claus has agreed to increase the amount it recycles by 15,631 pounds by the end of 2009 with the creation of a new training program for employees and implementing 5S principles to make separating recyclables more visual for employees.

• Ottenweller Company, Inc., Fort Wayne, Allen County

Ottenweller Company, Inc. is committed to reducing the amount of propane used in its forklifts by 34,051 pounds, or 30 percent, by improving staging methods and using jacks and carts.

• SAMTEC, Incorporated, New Albany, Floyd County

SAMTEC, Incorporated has agreed to involve all of its employees in reducing their environmental impact by recycling 1,000 pounds of aluminum cans and 1,500 pounds of plastic bottles in the employee cafeteria by the end of 2009.

• Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc., Lafayette, Tippecanoe County

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. is committed to replacing a solvent-borne top coat with a water-borne top coat reducing volatile organic compounds by 202,287 pounds by the end of 2009.

To become an ESP member, a business must maintain an exemplary compliance record, certify that it has adopted and implemented an approved environmental management system, and commit to specific measures for continued improvement in its environmental performance.

ESP members qualify for expedited permit review, flexibility in permitting, reduced reporting frequencies, and coordination of compliance inspections. To maintain ESP membership, companies must report on their environmental initiatives every year and reapply for ESP membership every three years.

For details about the program, visit IDEM’s Web site at www.idem.IN.gov/prevention/esp.

About IDEM

IDEM (www.idem.IN.gov) implements federal and state regulations regarding the environment. Through compliance assistance, incentive programs and educational outreach, the agency encourages and aids businesses and citizens in protecting Hoosiers and our environment.

The first installment in this series concerns something other than Irish heritage that, for better or worse, has become inextricably linked to the celebration of the holiday in the U.S.: beer. Although this alcoholic beverage is sometimes dyed green for the sake of St. Patrick’s Day parties, the following resources relate to beer and brewing practices that are green in the sense of their environmental impacts.

As is the trend with most organic foods and beverages, organic beer is becoming more and more widely available as even big box retailers climb aboard the “green products are good for public relations, profits and the environment” train. Co-op America offers an overview of organic beer and wine as well as the rationale for choosing locally produced beers whenever possible (to reduce negative effects of long distance shipping, among other reasons). You can also search their National Green Pages under “Wine/Beer” for examples of breweries that produce organic beer. There is also a North American Organic Brewers Festival, scheduled this year for June 27-29 in Portland, Oregon. The festival web site lists the participating breweries and the beers they’re presenting.

For those of you, like my husband, who enjoy brewing your own beer at home, you might find the Seven Bridges Cooperative an interesting resource. Based in California, Seven Bridges provides certified organic ingredients for home brewing, such as organically grown hops and grains.

Interestingly, organic beer became the topic of controversy last year, as the USDA added to the list of non-organic ingredients that may compose 5% of a product by weight and still allow that product to bear the label “organic.” Hops were on the list, and while critical to the production of beer, they do make up less than 5% of the finished product by weight. The Organic Consumers Association was outraged by what it termed the “Budweiser Exception” that could allow big brewing companies to mass produce “organic” beers without using organically grown hops; the controversy was covered by MSNBC. Anheuser-Busch has since switched to using 100% organic hops. See the USDA’s web site for more information on organic food standards and labels.

Turning to waste reduction and efficiency in the brewing process, regardless of the use of organic ingredients, the March/April 2007 edition of In Business magazine featured a profile of Mad River Brewing Company in Blue Lake, California, which recycles or reuses 98% of its residuals, with a goal toward generating zero waste. The April 2007 edition of eco-structure Magazine included a look at the sustainable practices of New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. Among other things, the company purchases wind energy to power 100% of its brewery’s operations, the packaging hall was designed with energy efficiency in mind, and the brewhouse features a closed-loop heating system. For more information about New Belgium’s sustainability initiatives, see their web site.

For an example of sustainable initiatives at a brewery within the Great Lakes region, check out Michigan DEQ’s case study on the Leopold Bros. of Ann Arbor, Michigan. Goose Island Brewery in Chicago, Illinois is also a founding member of the Chicago Waste to Profit Network. An article from the October 2000 edition of Conscious Choice discusses several organic beers, including Goose Island’s organic beer production and partnering with Panorama Brewing Company to produce Wolaver’s Organic Ales regionally. Lakefront Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin was the first brewery in that state and the first business in Milwaukee to receive the Travel Green Wisconsin certification from the state’s Department of Tourism. Check out the brewery’s web site detailing what they’ve done to reduce their environmental and social impact and earn this recognition.

For more resources related to P2 for breweries, check out the GLRPPR Food Processing Sector Resource. I’ll be adding a “Beverage Manufacturing” subcategory in the near future to make finding resources related to brewing and other beverage production within this Sector Resource easier.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) recently recognized three New York City hospitals and three energy service companies for energy efficiency efforts. The awards were made through NYSERDA’s Peak-Load Reduction Program, an incentive program designed to improve the reliability of New York’s electric grid while helping businesses and industries reduce operating costs.

New York Methodist and Mount Sinai Hospitals, along with New York Medical College, were each presented a plaque in recognition of their energy efficiency projects that will significantly reduce load demand during peak summer hours. The projects included the installation of two new, high efficiency dual-stage absorption chillers (New York Methodist), a lighting retrofit (Mount Sinai), and the installation of three high efficiency electric chillers and consolidating the air distribution system (New York Medical College). Combined, the three hospitals will save over $1 million a year in operating expenses and reduce electric consumption by over 7 million kilowatt hours per year.

LC Associates, NES Energy, and Con Edison Solutions were each presented awards for their work in numerous cooling, motor, and lighting projects.

Read the full NYSERDA press release online.

Applications are now available for the 2008 Pennsylvania Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence. The award is open to any Pennsylvania business, government agency, educational institution, nonprofit organization, individual or farm that has created or helped to develop a project that promotes environmental stewardship and economic development in the state. The deadline to submit projects for 2008 awards is Monday, October 15, 2007. You can download an application and view detailed summaries of past winning projects on the PA DEP web site.

The latest edition of the Minnesota Technical Assistance Program (MnTAP) newsletter, Source is now available online. Included in this issue:

• Rx for the Environment: Hospitals are reporting tenfold increases in costs for managing pharmaceutical waste. Prevention options are helping some facilities reduce drug waste and costs.
• Pharmaceutical Waste Workshops: MnTAP is sponsoring three pharmaceutical waste workshops to help hospital-based pharmacies keep in regulatory compliance.
• Minnesota Health Care Facilities Win Honors: Three Minnesota health care facilities were recognized at the Hospitals for a Healthy Environment’s Environmental Excellence Summit.
• Disposing of Drug Waste at Home: Tips on how to manage unwanted medications from your home.
• Lou-Rich Cuts Water: This contract metal manufacturer reduced water used in cleaning and cooling operations by 8.9 million gallons per year, saving $42,100 annually—with assistance from a MnTAP intern.
• Non-contact Cooling Water: Evaluate your facility’s use of non-contact cooling water to identify opportunities to reduce water use and cost.
• Where’s Your Waste–MnTAP Interns: Nine MnTAP interns are reducing waste across the Minnesota. Join us on August 23 to hear about how their companies are working to reduce waste.
• Vacuum Bagging and Infusion Demonstration: Carstens Industries will share its process for vacuum bagging and infusion in Melrose on September 12.
• Lean and Green Seminar: Manufacturers Alliance is hosting the educational seminar “The New Scene is Lean & Green” on August 9. Three manufacturers will present their experiences.
• Minnesota Materials Exchange: A materials exchange program lists one company’s unwanted material and makes it available for use by another company. The listings in Source are examples of available and wanted listings, and successful exchanges from the Minnesota Materials Exchange.
• Calendar: MnTAP posts trainings and events related to manufacturing process improvement, waste management and environmental, health and safety.

Sign-up for a free subscription of the MnTAP newsletter. You can receive the newsletter via e-mail. Minnesota businesses and organizations can choose to receive a hardcopy in the mail, ideal for routing to colleagues.

Archived past issues of Source are available on the MnTAP web site.

Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich has announced that applications are now available for the 2007 Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards. The Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC) – a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)- is now accepting applications for the annual awards program that honors companies and organizations for their efforts to prevention pollution.

“Organizations that lead the way in finding and using new methods to reduce waste and protect the environment contribute to a healthier Illinois,” said Gov. Blagojevich. “Anyone who makes an ongoing commitment to prevent pollution that, in the long run, will make their employees and our communities healthier is encouraged to apply.”

“It gives me great pleasure, year after year to see new companies and organizations recognized for their pollution prevention efforts. Our land benefits, our people benefit and these companies benefit for showing their leadership in environmental protection,” said Acting IDNR Director Sam Flood.

Since 1987, the WMRC has presented the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards to companies and organizations in Illinois that have demonstrated a commitment to environmental excellence through the practice of pollution prevention. Any Illinois public or private organization is eligible to apply for an award. Continuous Improvement Awards are awarded to companies that have shown an ongoing commitment to pollution prevention.

Information about the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards and an application are available online at: www.wmrc.uiuc.edu/gp2a/. Or contact Bob Iverson, Information Services Manager, to receive an application in the mail. Telephone: 217-333-8946. E-mail: biverson@wmrc.uiuc.edu.

The application due date is May 21, 2007. Technical experts from WMRC will review applications and site visits may be performed. The Governor’s office makes the final award decisions. Winners will be announced at the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards banquet on Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at the Abbington in Glen Ellyn.

Thanks to Bob Iverson for submitting this information.

The Illinois Waste Management & Research Center (WMRC) is seeking applicants for the new Illinois Sustainable Technology Award. The Sustainable Technology Award recognizes a novel technology that leads to significant waste reduction or elimination. Applicants must illustrate how innovative the new technology is, discuss the long-term beneficial impact of the technology on the environment in Illinois, and show how it has been implemented.

This award comes with a scholarship, provided by external sources, which goes to an Illinois resident attending a college or university. The Sustainable Technology Award is an expansion of the Innovate Illinois Award formerly presented by WMRC.

Information about the Illinois Sustainability Technology Award is available on the WMRC web site: http://www.wmrc.uiuc.edu/gp2a/. The application due date is May 21, 2007. Technical experts from WMRC will review applications and site visits may be performed. The winner will be announced in October.

WMRC is a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). Its headquarters is on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The Center also has offices in Oak Brook, Peoria and Brighton.

Thanks to Bob Iverson for submitting this information.

Governor Rod R. Blagojevich and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources have named 24 Illinois companies and organizations 2006 Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards winners for their significant achievements in protecting the environment and boosting the economy. The 20th annual Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards were presented in Bloomington during a luncheon hosted by the Waste Management and Research Center (WMRC), a division of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR).

Applicants for the awards were judged in a statewide competition on criteria including technological innovation, environmental significance, economic benefits and commitment to pollution prevention.

“We were impressed again with the variety and quality of the projects undertaken by the winning companies,” said George Vander Velde, WMRC Director. “These businesses and organizations have proven that pollution prevention makes good sense for the environmental and economic health of Illinois. They have achieved their pollution prevention goals and saved millions of dollars in pollution control, waste disposal, energy and raw material costs.”

The winners include:

Small company
Chem Processing, Inc. (CPI), Rockford
PortionPac Chemical Corporation, Chicago
Spraylat Corporation, Chicago
Consolidated Printing Co., Chicago

Large company
Farmland Foods, Inc., Monmouth
Illinois Department of Military Affairs, Springfield
CITGO, Lemont

Vendor/Supplier
Finishes Unlimited Inc., Sugar Grove

Educational Organization
Pontiac Township High School, Pontiac

Continuous Improvement
Small company
Lansing Cleaners, Lansing
R.B. White, Inc., Bloomington

Large company
GE Healthcare, Arlington Heights
Abbott, Abbott Park
ITT Bell & Gossett, Morton Grove
Gates Corporation, Galesburg
Nestle’ USA, Jacksonville
Cardinal Health, McGaw Park
Continental Tire North America (CTNA), Mount Vernon
International Truck & Engine Corporation, Melrose Park

Service Organization
St. Joseph’s Hospital, Breese
Sarah Bush Lincoln Health System (SBLHS), Charleston/Mattoon

Innovate Illinois Award
Caterpillar’s Mossville Engine Center, Mossville

For more information on the Governor’s Pollution Prevention Awards, visit the WMRC website.