THE NORTHEAST WASTE MANAGEMENT OFFICIALS' ASSOCIATION (NEWMOA) NEWMOA is a non-profit, non-partisan interstate governmental association. The membership is composed of state environmental agency directors of the pollution prevention, hazardous and solid waste, and waste site cleanup programs in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. NEWMOA's mission is to develop and sustain an effective partnership of states to explore, develop, promote, and implement environmentally sound solutions for the reduction and management of materials and waste, and for the remediation of contaminated sites, in order to achieve a clean and healthy environment. The group fulfills this mission by providing a variety of support services that facilitate communication and cooperation among member states and between states and EPA. NEWMOA's P2 program was established in 1989 to enhance the capabilities of the state and local environmental officials in the northeast to implement effective source reduction programs. The program is called the Northeast States Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NE P2 Roundtable). This program involves the following components: (1) NE P2 Roundtable meetings and workgroups; (2) regional P2 information resource center and databases of information; (3) source reduction research and publications; (4) training sessions; and (5) regional policy coordination and development. |
Assistance & Pollution Prevention for the Hospitality Industry
The great beauty, historic sites, unique culture, recreational areas, charm, and other attractions bring large numbers of tourists to the Northeast every year. As a result, tourism is a major industry and a significant contributor to the states’ economies, particularly for Northern New England. There is a growing interest in greening the hospitality industry, both to reduce its impact on the environment – particularly emissions of greenhouse gases, but also to attract tourists and conventions interested in patronizing facilities that are actively involved in implementing more sustainable practices.
The hospitality industry presents a major opportunity to combine economically and environmentally sustainable practices, because it incorporates and spans a wide array of supply chains, services, and activities. This sector of the economy, more so than most, is highly dependent on a clean and scenic environment, so it stands to benefit significantly from pollution prevention (P2) measures. Opportunities for P2 exist in such areas as water and energy efficiency, waste reduction, chemical usage, pest management, and procurement of environmentally preferable products.
The article below provides a description of some of the green hospitality efforts underway in the Region by both government agencies and a private organization. The article also presents some of the environmental results that have been realized in Maine and Vermont.
Connecticut
The Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP) is interested in the recent success of green hotel certification programs in New England. Green hoteliers in CT have expressed some interest in these programs and encouraged DEP to explore a green hotels certification program. The next steps by CT DEP would be to review existing programs and plan for creation of a certification program based on for example, the Maine program described below. Such a program would include self-certification using a program guide and checklist.
CT DEP plans to conduct a meeting with potential partners including State Tourism, Hotel and Motel Association, interested hotels, and others. The next step would be to adapt existing Maine green hotel program materials to Connecticut and add these to the CT DEP website.
For more information contact: Kim Trella, CT DEP, .
Maine
Maine’s Environmental Leader certification for lodging businesses is managed by the Pollution Prevention Program within the Office of Innovation at the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP). The program has certified 64 lodging businesses since it began in November of 2005.
The point-based system developed by Maine’s Pollution Prevention (P2) Program uses a self certification workbook (available at http://www.maine.gov/dep/innovation/greencert/lodging.doc) that businesses can use to guide them through the certification process. The P2 Program provides on-site technical assistance for all businesses that specifically request it and performs 12 random verification audits per year to assess point total accuracy.
Businesses that score at least 100 points qualify for the automatic certification from the state for two years. In two years, they need to increase the point total to 130 to be eligible for a free re-certification. Businesses do not need to have 100 initial points to begin participation within the program. Technical assistance visits and recommendations from ME DEP’s P2 Program Manager help businesses achieve more points. If a business scores less than 100 points, that business is eligible for a “provisional” certification that includes all the benefits of a fully certified business provided they obtain the remainder of the points within a three month grace period.
The P2 Program awards businesses that have achieved the necessary point total with a certificate, decals, and a desk top flag. A full size flag (2 feet x 3 feet) is available for purchase for lodging businesses that have been certified. Certified businesses are also included in a brochure that is distributed to all of the Maine visitors’ centers.
For the 64 participating businesses, some of the cumulative estimated yearly reductions include:
The use of 249,222 bottles was reduced by installing refillable amenity dispensers at 22 businesses (representing 569 rooms), eliminating 14,943 pounds of plastic (estimated by assuming 2 bottles per room). 39 businesses representing 1,435 rooms have switched to using environmentally preferable cleaning chemicals. 21 businesses are now using 172 gallons of low VOC paint, which eliminated 358 pounds of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted to the air.
Other initiatives being conducted under the certification program include:
In November of 2006, Maine began certifying restaurants with the same kind of program. To date, there are 13 restaurants certified with metrics available through Maine’s P2 Program.
For more information contact: Peter Cooke, ME DEP, (207) 287-7100.
Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM), in partnership with the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association, the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the Rhode Island Tourism Division, developed a Hospitality Green Certification Program in the spring of 2007. The program features certification workbooks for lodging facilities and for restaurants, which were developed using the model of the Maine DEP program (see article above).
The workbooks with checklists for both lodging facilities and restaurants can be found at http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/assist/grncert/. In addition to certification documents and a list of certified facilities, this webpage offers other helpful information on a variety of relevant topics.
The program was formally introduced in the hospitality industry at the annual meeting of the Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau in November 2007. A training workshop was held for the lodging facilities sector in February to introduce the workbook and the program to key facility personnel, as well as present information on recycling and waste minimization, water conservation, and energy conservation. Similar training for the restaurant sector was held on April 3, 2008.
RI DEM expects to approve the first certifications in mid-April, with an awards ceremony to be held on April 22, 2008 at the Rhode Island Convention Center. Certifications will be followed by random inspections to begin in early 2009, and the point score necessary for certification will be gradually increased in future years. The program will include certification of green suppliers, and will be expanded to include conventions, meetings, and events.
In addition to newspaper coverage, the program was featured on a NBC10 WJAR EarthWatch RI program in March at the Newport Harbor Hotel and Marina in Newport. EarthWatch RI is a partnership between RI DEM and NBC10 WJAR that features environmental and natural resource topics and the work of RI DEM staff.
For more information visit: http://www.dem.ri.gov/earthwatch/pdf/41.pdf.
Vermont
Vermont is a destination for bucolic views, maple syrup, vibrant fall colors, snow covered mountains, historic villages, and country inns. The unspoiled beauty of the landscape is largely responsible for Vermont’s popularity as a vacation destination (13 million out-of-state visits/year; tourism is about 10 percent of the state’s annual revenue) and protecting the quality and character of the state is paramount in maintaining the Vermont brand identity.
Vermont’s lodging industry is beginning to understand the importance of the integrity of the state’s natural, cultural, historic, and aesthetic attributes. The “green” movement shows vitality as an increasingly popular strategy of innkeepers statewide. In response, the Green Hotels in the Green Mountain State program was created in 1998 to promote and advance environmentally – and fiscally – sound practices at the lodging establishments throughout the state (www.vtgreenhotels.org). This program, a branch of the Vermont Business Environmental Partnership (VBEP), is a voluntary environmental assistance and recognition program offered by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC) and the Vermont Small Business Development Center.
The Green Hotels program recognizes Vermont innkeepers that are committed to pollution prevention and exemplary environmental stewardship. The process begins with an environmental opportunity assessment conducted by the VBEP program staff, in which good practices are observed and recommendations made to further reduce the environmental impact of the inn and the guests. A property must adopt eight core standards in order to be designated an “Environmental Partner.” These standards include management policies, such as:
and such initiatives as:
Once a facility attains “Environmental Partner” status, additional and more rigorous standards, such as an environmental management plan to guide efforts to continually reduce the environmental consequences of operations, can be satisfied to be designated a “Green Hotel.” Finally, the program gathers data to measure the overall success of the program through performance reports (see the Table below).
More than 80 lodging properties have become Partners since the program’s inception, of which 50 have been designated as Green Hotels. Innkeepers are recognized as new program members by the Governor at a State House ceremony. Members also have their property listed on a promotional card available at each of the gateway rest areas in Vermont.
The marketing value of the program is essential to its success. The ‘green’ achievements of a hotel appeal to potential tourists, and the green lodging industry in Vermont is increasing in both numbers and in public awareness. Statewide lodging organizations have shown interest in endorsing and marketing Green Hotels, and VBEP maintains a website designed to laude the environmental accomplishments of each inn.
Green lodging is not without its challenges. While small, independently-owned inns are easily attracted to and retained in the program, larger properties are much more difficult to both bring into the program and to sustain as partners. Many large hotels are owned and managed by two different entities, often with different priorities. However, increasing market demand and green cost-effective procedural and facility improvements are slowly shifting hotel management towards environmentally sound practices. The VBEP program is working to include all of the state’s lodging facilities, large and small, and based on current trends, it is expected that interest in the program will continue to grow.
| Summary Results from the Impact Survey of Green Hotel Participating Lodging Properties | ||
| 2006 | 2007 | |
| Fuel reduction | 13,500 gal | 84,200 gal |
| Water reduction | 2,140,700 gal | 2,457,100 gal |
| Hazardous/toxic waste reduction | 262 lbs | 1,890 lbs |
| Recycled waste | 384,400 lbs | 430,400 lbs |
For more information contact: Julia Butzler, VT DEC, .
EPA Region 1-New England
EPA's Pollution Prevention Division (PPD) is working with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the Convention Industry Council, and interested stakeholders to develop a uniform standard to define and measure environmental performance in the meeting, hospitality, and event industries. Using a consensus process, ASTM supports thousands of volunteer technical committees to develop and maintain standards. Work will continue to review existing "green" hotel standards and elicit the input of sustainable lodging programs.
For more information contact: Robert Guillemin, EPA Region 1-NE (617) 918-1814, .
EPA Region 2
By using sound environmental management practices, resorts, hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast establishments can reduce their impact on the environment, improve their bottom line, and satisfy customer demand for environmentally conscientious hospitality facilities. These attributes are especially important in EPA Region 2 because of the vital role the hospitality sector plays in the regional economy.
EPA offers several P2 partnership programs that are applicable to the hospitality industry. Some programs, such as WaterSense and ENERGY STAR®, help consumers—including hospitality facilities—identify water- and energy-efficient products and services. Hospitality facilities in EPA Region 2 are already taking advantage of EPA’s partnership programs, including WasteWise, a free program through which organizations eliminate municipal solid waste, benefiting their bottom line and the environment. As of January 2008, three hospitality facilities in Puerto Rico were listed as WasteWise partners.
Also applicable to the hospitality industry, EPA developed a Green Meetings/Conference Initiative to provide green options and opportunities for meeting planning. The initiative’s Web site is a central resource for meeting planners and service providers, offering a step-by-step process for planning the “greenest” event possible (see Web Resources Section).
EPA Region 2 is initiating partnerships to advance P2 in the hospitality industry. One partnership with academia, local government, and industry will explore P2 opportunities in hospitality facilities in upstate New York. Another government and industry partnership will focus on enhancing the green tourism infrastructure in Puerto Rico. In addition, EPA Region 2 is working with NEWMOA in a regional effort to provide materials and information about P2 efforts in the hospitality sector throughout the Northeast.
Purdue University, under a cooperative agreement with EPA, has developed software to enable the hospitality sector to assess and reduce environmental impacts specific to the industry. Purdue’s “Software for Environmental Awareness (SEA): Environmental Enrichment for the Lodging Industry” is available on EPA’s SEA Web site and is available in English and Spanish.
For more information contact: Joseph Bergstein, EPA Region 2 (212) 637-3890, ; visit www.epa.gov/region02/p2/.
Greening Hospitality Initiatives: An Interview with Dan Ruben, Executive Director of Boston Green Tourism
Boston Green Tourism was started in 2005 by Dan Ruben as an initiative of local visitor-industry leaders that strives to make Greater Boston a compelling U.S. destination for visitors that seek a city with easy access to nature, beauty, and outdoor recreation, and who desire environmentally-friendly hospitality services.
NEWMOA: Please describe the work you have been doing with hospitality facilities to green their operations and services.
Ruben: I started Boston Green Tourism in 2005 to green the visitor industry in Greater Boston. Now that Boston has a clean harbor with a national park; the Charles River is cleaner; whale watching is a growing attraction; the park system is improving; and the city is beautiful, I wanted to help create greener hospitality facilities so that the city could attract tourists and conventions that might not otherwise come. I and others urged the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center to set up a recycling program. In 2005, the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and the Hynes Auditorium threw out about 400,000 pounds of garbage a month. Now they recycle a high percentage of that waste. The Program has received an award from the EPA Waste Wise Program. The Center was able to attract the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Green Building Convention to Boston later this year in part because they now have a serious recycling program. The USGBC has high standards for where they hold their conventions and having a great recycling program is one of the criteria they use to select facilities. USGBC will be bringing 3,000 people and $30 million to Boston. I use this example to demonstrate the economic benefit of going green.
There are 40 facilities that are members of Boston Green Tourism. Every year the group holds about eight seminars with three to four speakers each. We also hold webinars and provide members with information on green practices for hotels. We help members identify where to get tax breaks and utility incentives for implementing green practices and systems.
I have persuaded several restaurants to become Green Restaurant Association certified. Greater Boston has gone from 2 green certified restaurants in 2005 to about 15 today. I have also done some marketing for Boston as a green destination. For example, we held a press event for the first six Boston Green Tourism hotels to earn the Energy Star Label.
NEWMOA: What do you think are the most significant actions a lodging facility or restaurant can take to go green?
Ruben: The number one action that a hotel or restaurant can take is to reduce its energy use. Global warming is the biggest environmental issue that we face, and fossil fuel use is most directly associated with it. Fortunately, energy efficiency is also the most cost-effective green action a hotel or restaurant can implement. Hyatt Regency Boston is a great example. They reduced their electricity use from 12.3 million kilowatt hours of electricity per year to 8.0 million kilowatt hours per year, for an annual saving of about $650,000—not taking into account their investment in energy efficient equipment. They accomplished this through about 20 different actions, including a chiller retrofit and changing their lighting and motors.
After energy use reduction is purchasing renewable energy; improving waste management, including recycling; reducing water use; improving indoor air quality; reducing environmental toxins; purchasing environmentally preferable products; and educating customers and staff about environmentally-friendly practices.
NEWMOA: Can you describe the progress you see occurring in the industry?
Ruben: In the last year, the hospitality industry has recognized that greening their facilities is important. Almost every major hotel chain has started plans to green their facilities, and there are conference sessions on this topic at many industry events. We are beyond the “early adopters” now. In 2005, Boston had three hotels certified by the EPA Energy Star Program. Now there are 25 Energy Star certified hotels in Greater Boston, including 7 Boston Green Tourism hotels.
Hotels now have green wedding packages; they have converted to green cleaning products; they are using low or no volatile organic compounds (VOCs) paints; they have taken action to reduce water use; they recycle their beds and carpeting; and some have started food composting. Not all 40 Boston Green Tourism hotels are doing all of these things, but different hotels are doing one or more of them.
We do not compile quantitative and aggregated environmental results for all of our member hotels. I focus on how many hotels achieve green-certification. When facilities are Energy Star certified, for example, they demonstrate that they are in the top 25 percent of their class on energy efficiency.
NEWMOA: What do you see occurring around the U.S.?
Ruben: There are three national certification programs: U.S. EPA Energy Star, USGBC Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Building Certification, and Green Seal. The American Hotel and Lodging Association is coming out with a certification program this year. This may help create a well-recognized national green hotel standard. Canada already has a single national certification program.
There are 11 states with green hospitality programs – either run by the private sector or state agencies. Of these, 6 have hotel-only programs, and 6 have hotels and other related sectors involved. In the Northeast, the states that currently have programs are Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont (most of these are described in the Feature Article in this newsletter).
NEWMOA: What advice do you have for customers seeking to patronize green hospitality facilities?
Ruben: Right now, it’s not easy for consumers to identify green hotels. They can certainly look at facilities that are certified under the three national programs or the state programs. Beyond that consumers should look at a hotel’s website to see if they have an environmental program, and then assess it.
NEWMOA: How can hospitality facilities find out more about what they can do to green themselves?
Ruben: I recommend the EPA Energy Star for Hospitality website (www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=hospitality.bus_hospitality), which has great information on how hospitality facilities can reduce energy use. Another important resource is the Green Lodging News e-mail newsletter and website (www.greenlodgingnews.com/).
NEWMOA: Do you have any suggestions for state and local government officials?
Ruben: I suggest that state and local officials examine the existing national and state certification programs. In particular, I think the Florida and Wisconsin programs are interesting models. The Florida Green Lodging program combines outreach, certification, education, and publicity. In Wisconsin, the program covers many sectors related to the hospitality industry, including hotels, restaurants, golf courses, cruise ships, ski areas, and others, with an interesting approach and methodology.
I suggest that officials keep an eye on the American Hotel and Lodging Association efforts, which may circumvent the need for a state program. However, the question has been raised about the need for state programs if there is a national program. I think there are some answers to this. First, two of the three national certification programs – Green Seal and USGBC LEED – are expensive and time consuming. They apply to large facilities and not the smaller ones, particularly bed and breakfast-type facilities. The Energy Star Program applies to facilities with 20 or more rooms. Therefore, facilities with less than 20 rooms do not have a program. State programs are needed to fill this gap. State programs are also positioned best to educate hospitality industry professionals. Hoteliers benefit from seminars, technical support, and opportunities to learn from their peers. Boston Green Tourism educates hoteliers about products, practices, and vendors and provides an opportunity for hotels to show off their achievements to each other.
For more information visit: www.bostongreentourism.org/.
Web Resources
This section of the NE Assistance & P2 News lists useful web resources that are related to the topic of the Feature Article.
P2Rx Topic Hub on Hospitality is a primer intended as a quick guide to the essential pollution prevention information on hospitality, as well as a compilation of pertinent on-line resources.
http://www.p2rx.org/topichubs/toc.cfm?hub=14&subsec=7&nav=7
The Green Seal Hospitality Standard applies to lodging properties located throughout the U.S. but does not include swimming pools, golf courses, or restaurants associated with the properties.
http://www.greenseal.org/certification/standards/lodgingproperties.cfm
The Energy Star Hospitality Program is designed to help organizations take control of their energy use by providing information, tools, and resources for improving energy and environmental performance.
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=hospitality.bus_hospitality
Software for Environmental Awareness (SEA) for the Lodging Industry aims to help the owner, operator, or employee of a hospitality facility understand the environmental impact and costs of tourism and hospitality (including restaurants).
www.epa.gov/seahome/hotels.html
CERES Green Hotel Initiative (GHI) is designed to increase and demonstrate market demand for environmentally responsible hotel services. They provide many tools that help businesses communicate their environmental performance – Best Practice Survey, GHI Guest Request Card, and the GHI Community listserv.
http://www.ceres.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=761&srcid=601
WaterSense is a partnership program sponsored by the EPA, which makes it easy for people to save water and protect the environment.
http://www.epa.gov/watersense/
WasteWise is a voluntary EPA program through which organizations eliminate municipal solid waste and select industrial wastes, benefiting their bottom line and the environment.
www.epa.gov/wastewise/
EPA’s Green Meetings & Green Hotel Initiative was developed and is supported by the EPA’s Pollution Prevention Division to provide conference planners and suppliers of conference services easy access to environmentally friendly conference planning.
http://www.epa.gov/oppt/greenmeetings/pubs/current_init.htm
The Green Meeting Industry Council (GMIC) is a source of knowledge and expertise about sustainability in the hospitality industry. It supports the collaboration, development, and dissemination of resources and opportunities that improve the environmental performance of meetings and events.
http://www.greenmeetings.info/
BlueGreen Meetings is a free resource hosted by the GMIC that provides tips and information for meeting professionals wanting to know how to start greening their meetings.
http://www.bluegreenmeetings.org/
PPRC’s Pollution Prevention in the Hospitality Sector Webpage is a compilation of information resources for the hospitality sector. The list is a useful starting point for those that are interested in P2 and hospitality.
http://www.pprc.org/pubs/hosptlty.cfm
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (CT DEP)
Hospitals/Health Care
CT DEP’s Office of Pollution Prevention continues to provide assistance to hospitals through the CT Hospital Environmental Roundtable (CHER). CHER provides a setting for hospitals to learn from each other by sharing ideas, presenting success stories, and keeping up-to-date on available resources.
A CHER workshop entitled, “Our Health, Our Environment: Nurses Making the Connection at Work and at Home” was held at the CT Children’s Medical Center (CCMC) in Hartford in October 2007. The workshop targeted nurses and student nurses and was organized with CCMC and nurses representing the Connecticut Nurses Association. The purpose of the workshop was to educate nurses about substances found at home and at work that are impacting people’s health and the environment. The participants also learned how to set up a “green team” at work and about the resources available from Hospitals For a Health Environment (H2E). Presentations are available at http://www.ct.gov/dep/cwp/view.asp?a=2708&q=323980&depNav_GID=1763#Oct1707.
The CT DEP P2 Office has partnered with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) Drug Control Division on pharmaceutical disposal issues:
For further information contact: Connie Mendolia or Nan Peckham, CT DEP (860) 424-3297.
Green Building Regulations
A set of CT green building regulations has been released for public comment. The regulations were written as part of a new law that requires any State-funded projects (over $5 million for new construction, $2 million for renovation) to be built to CT green building regulations. The regulations are similar to the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver or two Green Globes rating, however, the requirements for energy efficiency are not optional.
The purposes of the regulations are to establish minimum standards for the construction of state funded agency buildings in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy, water efficiency, site selection and development, recycling, reuse and sustainability, indoor environment, and building operations. The standards reduce the operating cost of the buildings, improve the working environment, and make the buildings more energy efficient.
For more information contact: John Ruckes, CT DEP (860) 418-6384.
Organic Land Care
In 2007, CT DEP completed the first year of a multi-year pilot project to provide technical assistance in implementing organic land care to the Town of Manchester, which has a town crew that manages its athletic fields. Pre- and post-season soil tests on Manchester’s pilot soccer field indicated progress in reducing high nutrient levels and improved biological life compared with a field that did not receive organic management. DEP is seeking a town that has a commercial vendor managing its athletic fields for a pilot to be undertaken in the 2008 season. This will be the second DEP pilot project on organic land care. Over 1000 copies of the informational DVD on organic land care produced under a 2005 EPA Pollution Prevention Grant have been disseminated.
For more information contact: Mary Sherwin or Judy Prill, CT DEP (860) 424-3297.
Greening the Office Party
CT DEP has begun to "green" its holiday office parties. This year, in conjunction with the Campaign for Charitable Giving, staff held a “Plate Sale” where donated, reusable plates and cups were sold so that staff could use these at the annual party, instead of disposables. Proceeds from the sale were donated to charity.
Recycling stations were also set up on each floor so that food waste could be collected for the building compost, and bottles and foil containers could be recycled. The CT DEP Commissioner noted in an employee publication that there was much less trash produced during the building’s 2007 holiday parties. In addition, more staff now has durable plates and utensils to use for everyday. Members of the agency’s P2 Work Group organized the party greening project.
For more information contact: Kim Trella, CT DEP, .
MAINE
Maine Department of Environmental Protection (ME DEP)
Current activities of the Pollution Prevention Program in Maine DEP’s Office of Innovation and Assistance (OIA) include:
MASSACHUSETTS
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MA DEP)
Energy Management to Save Money
Massachusetts announced the first phase of an innovative pilot program, targeting 14 wastewater and drinking water treatment plants across the state that will reduce the amount of energy that municipal facilities currently use to treat wastewater and drinking water, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save communities money. In Massachusetts, approximately 30 percent of municipal energy use comes from water treatment. Statewide, cities and towns spend approximately $150 million per year for electricity in the course of treating 662 billion gallons of wastewater and drinking water.
The "Energy Management Pilot for Wastewater and Drinking Water Plants" brings together state and federal agencies and electric and gas utilities to conduct facility energy audits, assess each plant for its renewable and clean energy possibilities, and offer support for the implementation of these energy-related projects.
MassDEP will take the lead among public and utility partners that will work in concert to audit energy use at municipal wastewater and drinking water facilities; assess the potential for developing clean, renewable energy at these facilities; and provide financial support for implementation of energy upgrades. Partners in this project include the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources (DOER), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 1-New England, NStar, National Grid/KeySpan, Bay State Gas, Cape Light Compact, Western Massachusetts Electric, Unitil, Berkshire Gas, the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative (MTC), the University of Massachusetts-Amherst's Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and the Consortium on Energy Efficiency.
The pilot program was announced in December at the Long Pond Water Treatment Facility in Falmouth, which is a model plant that is effectively integrating energy efficiency and renewable sources into their drinking water and wastewater operations. If energy use in municipal water treatment were reduced by 20 percent across the board, emissions from power generation would be reduced by approximately 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide; 760,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide; and 250,000 pounds of nitrous oxides.
The cost of implementing the pilot program is estimated at $326,000, with the funding coming from the utilities' energy efficiency incentive programs, the DOER Energy Conservation Improvement Program, the existing MTC Renewable Energy Trust grant and financial assistance programs, the State Revolving Fund two percent loan program, and other sources.
For more information visit: www.mass.gov/dep/public/press.
LEED Renovation at State Lab
Over the next two years, MassDEP’s Senator William X. Wall Experiment Station will evolve from a small, 53 year old laboratory facility into an expanded, renovated “green building,” which will contain state-of-the-art analytical equipment and feature Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) amenities.
MassDEP Commissioner Laurie Burt and Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles announced the Lab’s $22 million expansion and renovation project during groundbreaking ceremonies at the Lawrence facility in November. They were joined by EPA Region 1-New England Administrator Robert Varney, State Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAM) Commissioner David Perini, Massachusetts Water Pollution Abatement Trust Executive Director Scott Jordan, Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan, and State Representatives Barry Finegold, David Torrisi, and William Lantigua.
The LEED upgrades will include the use of photo-voltaic cells as a solar energy source; a super-efficient Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system to save up to 40 percent on heating and cooling costs; rain gardens for better management of stormwater; rainwater recycling for non-potable uses and irrigation; large windows that will allow the sun to provide light and heat; installation of a “green roof” on a portion of the building; and a set-aside for plug-in hybrid vehicle parking spaces.
The Wall Experiment Station is Massachusetts’ principal drinking water laboratory, and the facility annually performs 10,000 lab analyses of contaminants in water, wastewater, air, soil, hazardous wastes, fish, and other samples. The facility also certifies more than 150 commercial and municipal labs for compliance analysis of both potable and non-potable water.
The first phase of the project involves a $16 million facility expansion, utilizing funds approved by the Massachusetts Legislature. Funding is also being provided by EPA through the State Drinking Water Revolving Fund. The second phase – to be funded through the Environmental Bond Bill – will involve a $6 million renovation of the existing lab.
For more information visit: www.mass.gov/dep/about/organization/wespost.htm#future.
Planning Options for Toxics Use Reduction
Under the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA), facilities are required to report their toxics use on an annual basis and develop a toxics use reduction (TUR) plan every two years. Massachusetts promulgated new regulatory revisions in December 2007 that now allow TUR planners to develop either a Resource Conservation (RC) Plan or to implement an Environmental Management System (EMS) in lieu of a TUR plan. RC planning provides an opportunity to focus on other important operations where further environmental improvement and cost savings can be achieved, such as reducing the use of energy, water, solid waste, toxics under TUR thresholds, and other unlisted chemical substances.
RC planning is ideal for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to climate change, since reducing the use of energy, water, and/or materials can achieve significant GHG reductions. For example, increasing energy efficiency means less fuel is consumed on-site or by power plants, thereby reducing GHG and other pollutant emissions
Facilities that have an Environmental Management System (EMS) and that report chemical use under TURA have the opportunity to integrate toxics use reduction planning into their EMS so they no longer have to prepare separate TUR plans. The TURA regulations establish minimum requirements for an EMS (generally similar to ISO 14001 standards) that emphasize integrating toxics use reduction planning for all TURA chemicals and production units into the EMS.
The TURA partner agencies have compiled information and developed trainings for companies interested in the new planning options. Visit the Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance website for additional information on energy and water conservation (www.mass.gov/envir/ota), the Toxics Use Reduction Institute’s website for information on training for the new planning options and about alternative toxics (www.turi.org), and MassDEP’s website for Resource Conservation and EMS guidance, and additional information on solid waste (www.mass.gov/dep/toxics/toxicsus.htm).
For more information contact: Julia Wolfe, MassDEP, ; for EMS information contact: Martha Senn, MassDEP, .
Massachusetts Office of Technical Assistance (MA OTA)
Companies Using Higher Hazard Substances
The Massachusetts Administrative Council on Toxics Reduction has designated trichloroethylene, cadmium, and cadmium compounds as higher hazard substances. MA OTA, in conjunction with the other Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA) agencies, is launching an outreach program to organizations affected by that designation. The effort will identify and notify companies about the new 1,000 pound reporting threshold for the substances. Meetings with representatives of impacted industries are under way, and the outreach campaign will include mailings, conference presentations, workshops, and direct communication with trade associations. Companies will be offered background information and support from OTA’s technical assistance program, the Toxics Use Reduction Institute’s Surface Cleaning Lab, and MassDEP’s compliance assistance program.
For more information contact: Rick Reibstein, MA OTA (617) 626-1062, .
Energy Efficiency & Water Conservation
Upcoming Fundamentals of Energy Efficiency and Water Conservation workshops will feature presentations from OTA staff, business leaders, consultants, and officials from water, gas, and electric utilities. The workshops seek to heighten awareness of conservation strategies and are intended for operations, production, and planning managers, as well as facilities; maintenance; and environmental, health, and safety staffs. Following the presentations, attendees can meet with OTA staff for open discussions or to pose specific questions pertaining to individual facilities. The workshops offer Toxics Use Reduction Planner (TURP) and Training Contact Hour (TCH) credits. The Energy Efficiency Workshop will be held on April 15, 2008 at Holyoke Community College, Holyoke, MA, and on April 30, 2008, at Assabet Valley Regional Technical High School, Marlborough, MA. The Water Conservation Workshop will be held on April 18, 2008 at the Assabet Valley Regional School and on April 29, 2008 at Holyoke Community College. To register, visit: http://www.mass.gov/envir/ota/events/ota_events.htm#water_energy.
For more information contact: Susan Lanza, MA OTA (617) 626-1068, .
School Mentoring Program Expands
Franklin High School recently became the tenth member of MA OTA’s School Mentoring Program. In recent years, OTA and the MassDEP identified serious chemical management issues at schools. Through the mentoring program, OTA matches schools with volunteer environmental health and safety experts from the private and public sectors. The mentors work with schools to improve safety and ensure regulatory compliance; reduce chemical purchases and waste generation; and train school staff. The program brochure and list of program participants is available at: http://www.mass.gov/envir/ota/programs/school_mentoring.htm.
For more information contact: Susan Lanza, MA OTA (617) 626-1068, .
Rich Bizzozero Named OTA Director
Rich Bizzozero has been appointed director of MA OTA and Executive Director of the Toxics Use Reduction Administrative Council. Formerly acting director, Rich has worked for OTA and the state's Toxic Use Reduction Act (TURA) program for more than 15 years, providing pollution prevention technical assistance to manufacturers across the state in a number of different industries. Rich has played key roles in several TURA initiatives and has worked collaboratively on many projects with other state and federal agencies. He has developed and led numerous trainings on regulatory compliance and pollution prevention for industry, as well as state and federal personnel. Rich earned a bachelor's degree in chemistry from the University of Vermont and a master's degree in plant and soil sciences from the University of Massachusetts.
For more information contact: MA OTA (617) 626-1060.
MA OTA Newsgroup
Now readers can easily receive news summaries of Massachusetts toxics use reduction activities and keep abreast of OTA programs and events by joining the OTA Newsgroup. OTA frequently emails items of interest to businesses, government agencies, trade groups and other stakeholders. To be added to OTA’s email distribution for all announcements, visit www.mass.gov/envir/ota, go to “Join the OTA Newsgroup,” and complete the form.
For more information contact: MA OTA (617) 626-1060.
Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (MA TURI)
Grant to Silver Hanger Cleaners
The Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute (TURI) awarded Silver Hanger Cleaners of Bellingham, Massachusetts a $17,000 matching grant to switch to 100 percent wet cleaning technology to eliminate the use of perchloroethylene (perc). The grant will help fund the purchase and installation of wet cleaning equipment. The shop will collect baseline and post-conversion data, including information on the utility and maintenance costs, quality of the cleaned garments, ease of conversion, and customer satisfaction. The new environmentally friendly wet cleaning store will open in May 2008.
For more information contact: Joy Onasch, MA TURI (978) 934-4343,
.
Energy Conservation Demonstration
MA TURI awarded a matching grant under its Cleaner Technology Demonstration Site program to Rohm and Haas Electronic Materials (RHEM) to demonstrate innovations in energy management and conservation at its Marlborough facility. RHEM has undertaken initiatives in process heat exchange, energy efficiency, solar power, and green chemistry.
For more information contact: Pam Eliason Civie, MA TURI (978) 934-3142, .
Grantee Recognized by the White House & U.N.
A $500 TURI community grant project, “Get the Lead out of Fishing,” earned Michael Browne of Milton, Massachusetts not only his Eagle Scout rank but also honors from the President and the United Nations. In April, he will visit the White House where he will receive the EPA Region 1 President's Environmental Youth Award. In May, he will go to Sweden to represent the U.S. in a competition for the Volvo Adventure Award, a joint program of Volvo and the United Nations Environment Programme.
For more information contact: Joy Onasch, TURI (978) 934-4343, .
NEW HAMPSHIRE
New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services (NH DES)
Strategic Plan
The new NH DES Strategic Plan will take different approaches to proactively address the serious issues of climate change, energy use, and the potential negative impacts of growth on natural resources and quality of life. NH DES recently sent out a survey to the public to gather information to help better position NH DES and its partners to more efficiently address the complex environmental challenges facing New Hampshire, both today and in the years to come.
Environmental Leadership Initiative
The first tier of NH DES’s Environmental Leadership initiative, the Aspiring Leaders Program, was launched in December. Aspiring Leaders is for anyone, but especially for small businesses and other organizations, like municipal agencies, that want to improve their performance but need some help and encouragement. Organizations may become members of Aspiring Leaders, if, to the best of their knowledge, they do not have any current unresolved environmental, health, or safety administrative or criminal enforcement actions against them.
Lamp Recycling Project
In the first year, 24 participating TrueValue hardware stores accepted and recycled 814 compact fluorescent lamps and 26,920 linear feet of straight lamps. This year, the program has expended to Ace Hardware stores. As of March 2008, 14 Ace Hardware stores around New Hampshire agreed to collect spent lamps from homeowners and small businesses to increase the recycling rate. NH DES received funding for this project under a settlement agreement to conduct mercury reduction projects.
For more information contact: Paul Lockwood, NH DES (603) 271-2956, .
Green Yards
In partnership with the New Hampshire Local Government Center (also called the NH Municipal Association), NH DES hosted four workshops throughout the state for local officials to meet their responsibilities for licensing auto salvage yards. In addition to these workshops, NH DES hosted eight workshops throughout the state for local officials and auto salvage yards to learn how to inspect facilities for compliance with best management practices (BMPs). Auto salvage yards are required by state law to certify that they are complying with the BMPs when they apply for a license from their town each year by April 1.
For more information contact: Sara Johnson, NH DES (603) 271-6460, .
NEW JERSEY
New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJ DEP)
Toxic Release Inventory Central Data Exchange
In 2007, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) partnered with the EPA on the Toxic Release Inventory Central Data Exchange (TRI-CDX). The TRI regulations stipulate that facilities must submit their TRI forms to the EPA and the applicable State Agency. The NJDEP's Office of Pollution Prevention and Right to Know (P2RTK) is the applicable State Agency in New Jersey.
Thanks to the effort of the NJDEP's P2RTK and Office of Information Resource Management (OIRM) staff, this program became available to industry in time to meet the July 1, 2007 reporting deadline. P2RTK realized an 80 percent facility response rate in submissions of TRI via CDX for fiscal year 2006.
NJDEP is now working with a vendor to upgrade its Facility Chemical Inventory and Tracking System (FACITS) database where this data will reside. This will allow staff to view and analyze the data. It is anticipated that the data will be available in the summer of 2008. Additionally, P2RTK is promoting, on EPA’s behalf, the use of the Internet-based program known as TRI-MEweb. There are numerous advantages to TRI-MEweb including, no software to download, pre-population of data from prior years, an automated Section 8 calculator, and enhanced accessibility, (i.e., from most any PC at work or home, while traveling, at cyber cafes).
For more information visit: Andy Opperman, NJDEP (609) 777-0518.
Green Auto Repair Program
Staffs from the P2RTK continue to work with representatives of the Automobile Association of America’s New Jersey Chapter (AAA-NJ) regarding the development and implementation of a "Green Auto Repair" program.
AAA-NJ and P2RTK are finalizing the application/checklist. The checklist covers such areas as pollution prevention, parts cleaning, brake service, recycling, waste management, housekeeping, and energy and water conservation. Each "green" activity has a point value and a repair shop would need to achieve a certain number of points to be considered a green auto repair shop. This voluntary program will be open to AAA and non-AAA-NJ affiliated auto repair shops. AAA-NJ staff will conduct audits of each applicant to determine that they are implementing all the activities stated on their application/checklist.
Once it is determined that a shop is "green," recognition will be provided by DEP and AAA-NJ in the form of a decal, plaque or sign, and possibly a listing on a DEP Green Auto Repair Shop website. This program will be tailored to be consistent with the NJDEP's Action Plan priorities.
For more information contact: Michael DiGiore or Ky Asral, NJDEP (609) 777-0518.
Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
NJDEP P2RTK continues to be involved in ongoing efforts to foster greater acceptance and use of environmentally preferable purchasing (EPP) concepts. In 2007, P2RTK worked with the New Jersey Departments of Treasury and Health to develop standards that were incorporated into a contract for green cleaning products for State agencies. P2RTK is currently working with the NJDEP's Office of Information Resource Management (OIRM) to develop guidelines for EPP information technology purchases.
In January 2008, legislation was enacted that requires the Treasury Department, in consultation with the NJDEP and other appropriate State agencies, to develop and periodically revise a list of sources for EPP. P2RTK is currently reviewing all State contracts to identify those with EPP components to be put on a Treasury Department website dedicated solely to State contracts with EPP requirements. P2RTK will also be identifying products and/or contracts for review, where they think they can incorporate new or additional EPP components.
For more information contact: Michael DiGiore, NJDEP (609) 777-0518.
NEW YORK
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYS DEC)
Pollution Prevention Institute (P2I)
New York has awarded an initial $2 million grant to the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to fund the P2I. Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, SUNY-Buffalo, and the Regional Technology Development Centers will partner with RIT in the development and implementation of the P2I. The Institute will offer a center for technology evaluation and development, as well as training and assistance to state businesses and organizations involved in pollution prevention. The Institute will promote cost effective methods for reducing and eliminating the use of toxic substances in the manufacturing process. Incorporating research and development, technology transfer, technology demonstration, education, outreach, and workforce development; the Institute will focus on sustainability and toxic use reduction over the course of a product’s life cycle. The Institute will foster partnerships between businesses, universities, state and local governments, and health and environmental organizations.
For more information contact: John Vana, NYS DEC (518) 402-9469, .
Pollution Prevention Intern Program
NYS DEC is initiating a new program to connect interns with a science background to facilities/corporations that are implementing green policies and actions. Interns will be working on specific projects that reduce toxics, wastes, energy, and/or water use while at the same time saving money. Applicants have been targeted using the Environmental Excellence Award winners and EPA Performance Track members. Students will be matched with a facility for participation this summer. Each intern will be required to prepare a final report.
For more information contact: Erica Cruden, NYS DEC (518) 402-9152, .
Chemical Cleanout at Schools
NYS DEC staffs are coordinating a chemical science lab cleanout pilot project to help schools comply with environmental requirements and implement pollution prevention objectives. They are reviewing inventories collected from two schools prior to initiating removal. Lessons learned will be developed into workshops to educate schools throughout the state on the risks associated with improper storage and disposal of lab chemicals. The Program is planning on conducting ten workshops to address this topic between September 2008 and May 2009.
For more information contact: Deborah Knight, NYS DEC (518) 402-9469, .
Small Business P2 & Environmental Compliance
The NYS DEC Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, with assistance from the Pollution Prevention Unit (PPU) and the P2 Council have developed an Environmental Results Program (ERP) to inspect, improve compliance, and assist autobody shops and printers. Activities include baseline inspections, outreach, self certification, audit submissions, metrics, and targeted follow-up inspections.
For more information contact: Aida Potter, NYS DEC (518) 402-9163, .
New York Environmental Leaders Program (NYEL)
The NYEL program recognizes and provides incentives to those organizations that can demonstrate the use of pollution prevention practices, beyond compliance performance, or sustainable business practices. The program has a five year entry tier and a three year leadership tier that can be renewed. Applicants to the leadership tier must have an Environmental Management System (EMS) in place. Incentives include recognition and assistance for both tiers and use of the NYEL logo, an exclusive awards category in the Environmental Excellence Awards program, a specific Department contact, and a coordinated schedule and scope of routine inspections as additional incentives for the leadership tier. The Program is targeting application submission dates for the first year for May 31 (only for existing Performance Track) and August 31 (for all perspective members).
For more information contact: John Vana, NYS DEC (518) 402-9469, .
Environmental Excellence Awards (EEA)
The 5th Annual 2008 Environmental Excellence Awards (EEA) program is underway. Under the EEA program, awards are given for excellence in innovation, sustainability, and creative partnerships in business, non-profits, government, academia, and individuals. Applications are due by June 13, 2008. The awards ceremony is expected to be held in December 2008.
For more information contact: Marna Posluszny, NYS DEC (518) 402-9469, .
Green Cleaning
State agencies are required to reduce the environmental impact of the cleaning of state facilities. The Commissioner of the Office of General Services, in consultation with NYS DEC and the NY Department of Health, is required to establish guidelines and specifications for environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products for use in elementary and secondary school facilities. The transition to green cleaning products is ongoing.
For more information contact: Carlos Montes, NYS DEC (518) 402-9468, .
Green Building Tax Credit Program
Legislation passed in 2000 created the Green Building Tax Credit Program. This program provides tax credits to building owners and tenants of eligible buildings and tenant spaces that meet certain "green" standards for energy efficiency, appliances, indoor air quality, use of recycled and sustainable materials, renewable energy, refrigerants, water conservation, as well as others that reduce the environmental impacts of larger commercial and residential buildings. NYS DEC is drafting revisions to the program. The tax credit is only available to facilities that go beyond requirements in the NYS Building Code.
For more information contact: Marna Posluszny, NYS DEC (518) 402-9469, .
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management (RI DEM)
Auto Salvage Yard Certification
RI DEM’s Auto Salvage Yard Facilities Certification Program that was introduced in May 2007 received a response from 37 facilities that completed and submitted the multi-media checklist. This is 56 percent of the 66 actively operated auto salvage yard facilities in Rhode Island. Participation in the program is voluntary, but the benefits of participating are strongly emphasized. The program covers both regulatory requirements and best management practices and is an Environmental Results Program (ERP) initiative, which features self-certification, compliance assistance, and performance measurement.
For more information visit: http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/assist/asy/index.htm.
Exterior Lead Paint Removal Certification
The Exterior Lead Paint Removal Certification Program introduced its second round of certification to painting contractors in September 2007. Since that time, 41 contractors have certified to compliance in this round. The certification program covers painting contractors complying with RI DEM’s Air Pollution Control Regulation # 24 (Removal of Lead Based Paint from Exterior Surfaces), as well as the federal Lead Pre-Renovation Education Rule.
RI DEM’s Exterior Lead Paint Removal webpage (http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/benviron/assist/extlead/index.htm) is a resource for painting contractors, as well as homeowners and the general public. It contains documents and information for the certification program, the list of certified contractors, as well as being a source for exterior lead paint removal information, the federal Lead Pre-Renovation Education Rule, and other lead renovation information.
For more information contact: Thomas E. Armstrong, RI DEM (401) 222-4700 x4412, .
VERMONT
Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation (VT DEC)
Business Sustainability Conference
The third annual “Greening Up Your Bottom Line” business sustainability conference will be held in Burlington on September 26, 2008 at the Sheraton Hotel and Conference Center. The conference is organized by the Vermont Small Business Development Center and a consortium of business and governmental organizations. This year’s conference will feature sessions on energy efficiency, alternative heating systems, calculating a carbon footprint, buying local, and business greening opportunities for general office operations, printing jobs, and electronic equipment purchases. Last year’s conference attracted over 150 attendees.
For more information contact: Gary Gulka, VT DEC (802) 241-3626, .
Mercury Thermostat Collection Pilot Project
The VT DEC conducted a two-month mercury thermostat collection pilot project to test the effect of a financial incentive on increasing the rate of residential mercury thermostat recycling. A total of 86 hardware stores served as collection points throughout the state during the months of October and November. A $5.00 cash incentive was provided in the form of $5.00 off the purchase of anything in the participating store where the thermostat was returned. DEC paid for the program through its special fund for mercury reduction projects. The Thermostat Recycling Corporation provided the collection bins and recycling at no charge to the stores. DEC arranged for newspaper and radio advertisements and in-store advertising materials.
Almost 1,200 mercury thermostats were collected during the two-month program. The collection of thermostats in the two-month pilot exceeded the in-state collection prior to the program by more than five-fold.
Consistent with the findings in Maine, Indiana, and Oregon, a financial incentive coupled with adequate program advertising and convenient recycling can yield substantial increases in mercury thermostat recycling. There was a variety and often a combination of factors that motivated individuals to participate, including the cash incentive, convenient recycling, and environmental concerns. It was also clear that since many of the collected thermostats were in service at the time, this pilot provided motivation to make a change to an energy-conserving digital programmable thermostat.
For more information contact: Gary Gulka, VT DEC (802) 241-3626, .
Vehicle Service & Repair
VT DEC is completing the on-site assistance phase of its two-year vehicle service and repair initiative that began in 2006, with 11 statewide workshops and the development of an updated environmental guidebook. The on-site assistance effort will document violations identified and best management practices recommended, and future phone follow-up will identify violations corrected, best management practices implemented, and pollution prevented. There were 172 attendees at workshops, representing 124 facilities. Of these, 62 facilities expressed interest in on-site assistance, with 50 facilities eventually agreeing to an on-site visit.
For more information contact: Gary Gulka, VT DEC (802) 241-3626, .
Vermont Business Environmental Partnership
The Vermont Business Environmental Partnership has certified 7 new businesses as Environmental Partners since October and is working with 8 more facilities in achieving program standards. The program currently has 51 Environmental Partners and 2 Environmental Leaders in the program. The Green Hotels Program for lodging establishments has added 21 new partners since October and is currently working with 3 other establishments in achieving program standards (see Feature Article).
For more information contact: Gary Gulka, VT DEC (802) 241-3626, .
NEW PUBLICATIONS & EDUCATIONAL MATERIALS
This following provides a list of new publications and other educational resources available from the Northeast states.
Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs
Recently, NH DES released two publications on fluorescent light bulbs, Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs and Mercury: What Consumers Should Know (http://www.des.nh.gov/factsheets/co/co-19.htm) and Cleanup Procedures for Broken Fluorescent Bulbs and Lamps (http://www.des.nh.gov/nhppp/UW/lamp%20cleanup2.pdf). The publications highlight the benefits of switching to compact fluorescent bulbs and lamps, cleanup procedures, and proper disposal options. As of January 1, 2008, New Hampshire prohibited the disposal of any mercury-containing product in landfills, incinerators, or transfer stations.
Trichloroethylene (TCE) Replacement Resources
The TURI Laboratory web site (http://www.turi.org/laboratory/trichloroethylene_tce_reduction_resources) includes many useful resources to help companies switch from TCE to safer chemistries. Helpful resources include a TURI/EPA Guidebook for metal finishers, tips for replacement, and the Laboratory’s CleanerSolutions database, www.cleanersolutions.org.
Chemical Fact Sheets
MA TURI recently updated two new chemical fact sheets—lead and formaldehyde—two of the five chemicals TURI researched in 2006 as reported in the “Five Chemicals Study.” Perchloroethylene and DEHP fact sheets were released in 2007. Massachusetts companies, community organizations, and residents can learn how the chemicals are being used and by which companies, the health and environmental effects, and the latest information about the availability of safer alternatives. Download the fact sheets at http://www.turi.org/home/turi_publications.
Wet Cleaning Video
A 5-minute video for dry cleaners about the benefits of wet cleaning is available on the TURI web site at http://www.turi.org/community/wet_cleaning. The video footage was taken at the Wet Cleaning Demonstration Day that TURI hosted for Massachusetts dry cleaners in the fall of 2007. The video showcases new technology and how 100 percent of garment cleaning can be conducted in state-of-the-art machines to replace perchloroethylene use.
Case study available at: http://www.mass.gov/envir/ota/publications/case_studies1.htm.
Marina Wash Water Control Technologies
For years, state technical assistance providers have been helping marinas prevent the release of harmful ingredients from pressure washing boats. A "Virtual Trade" show hosted by EPA Region 1-New England offers additional assistance by introducing marina and boatyard owners to technologies for controlling pressure wash water, such as recycling systems, containment tanks, and filtration-related products. Visit www.epa.gov/region1/assistance/ceitts/bpwvts/.
Lean & Energy Toolkit
A recently published Lean and Energy Toolkit offers Lean implementers practical strategies and techniques for improving Lean results (e.g., waste elimination, quality enhancement, and delivery of value to customers) while reducing energy use, costs, and risk. The toolkit is also intended to introduce Lean practitioners to the extensive array of energy management resources available from EPA, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and other organizations. Visit www.epa.gov/lean/energytoolkit/.
NORTHEAST RECYCLING COUNCIL (NERC)
State Electronics Challenge – Growing
The State Electronics Challenge (SEC) is a new initiative that challenges – and assists – state, regional, and local governments, including schools, colleges, universities, and other public entities to improve the life cycle management of their computers.
Government agencies and organizations participate as "Partners" in the program and commit to:
The SEC provides Partners with resources and technical assistance for improving electronics management practices, and offers annual recognition to Partners that have achieved specific goals. As of March 18, 2008 there were 12 Partners; for an up-to-date list of Partners, go to www.stateelectronicschallenge.net/current_partners.html.
A benefit of being a Partner is access to partner-only teleconferences. The first such call is scheduled for April 15 and will discuss how to procure green computers. Becoming a Partner is free and the benefits are ample. This project is funded by a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency.
For more information contact: Lynn Rubinstein, NERC, (802) 254-3636; visit http://stateelectronicschallenge.net/.
State Electronics Challenge – Growing
In January, the Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse (TPCH) began its second project to screen packaging for the presence of four heavy metals – lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent chromium – restricted by state toxics in packaging laws. This project follows the release of a TPCH report (http://www.toxicsinpackaging.org/projects_publications.html) in June 2007 that found a significant amount of retail packaging potentially in violation of state laws that prohibit the intentional use of these heavy metals in packaging and packaging components. Lead and cadmium were the most frequently detected heavy metals in the packaging samples.
The current screening project, funded by EPA Region 1-New England, uses an x-ray fluorescence analyzer (XRF) to determine the concentration of the four restricted metals, similar to the first screening project. Companies selling or distributing potentially non-compliant packages will be notified and asked to submit a Certificate of Compliance demonstrating compliance with state requirements or submit an action plan to address non-compliant packages. The packaging screening results will assist the TPCH in evaluating the effectiveness of outreach efforts begun after the first screening project to remove heavy metals from the solid waste stream; and will help the TPCH identify where further outreach efforts are needed. The report will be available in the fall 2008.
There are 19 U.S. states that have toxics in packaging laws, including 7 NEWMOA member states that were designed to prevent the use of heavy metals in packaging that ultimately end up in solid waste and recycling streams. Ten states are participating in this project, including Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, California, Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Washington.
For more information contact: Patty Dillon, TPCH,
EPA REGION 1-NEW ENGLAND
Sustainable Futures Initiative
The goal of the Sustainable Futures Initiative (SF) is to make new chemicals safer, available faster, and at lower cost. It works by giving chemical developers the same risk-screening models that EPA uses to evaluate new chemicals before they enter the market. Using these computer-based models, companies can identify potentially risky chemicals early in the development process and reduce risk by finding safer substitutes and/or processes before submitting them to the EPA. Also, the companies that take training with and graduate from Sustainable Futures become eligible for an expedited EPA review of their pre-screened chemicals.
For more information contact: Bill Waugh, EPA (202) 564-8924, ; visit www.epa.gov/oppt/sf.
NORTHEAST ASSISTANCE & P2 ROUNDTABLE
P2 Results for the Northeast
NEWMOA has been compiling and aggregating data on the outputs and outcomes of pollution prevention efforts in the Northeast over the past year and posting and summarizing the results in the P2 Results Data System (http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/measurement/index.cfm). To date, NEWMOA has received results for calendar years 2005 and 2006 from at least one pollution prevention program in each state in the region. The following is a summary of the results so far covering calendar years 2005 and 2006 (note: the outcome results for the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Program are not yet available for 2006 and are, therefore, not included below):
Output or activity results:
Outcome Results:
For more information contact: Andy Bray, NEWMOA (617) 367-8558 x306, ; visit http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/measurement/
Lead Sinkers P2Rx Topic Hub™
A sinker is a weight used in fishing to force a lure or bait to sink more rapidly to the bottom of the water, where larger fish typically feed. Lead sinkers and other leaded fishing gear are commonly used by anglers in different types of fishing. However, lead is a toxic substance and when these lead sinkers fall off the fishing line, the line breaks, or they are improperly disposed of in the water, they can have harmful effects on wildlife. As a result, some states have implemented regulations restricting the sale or use of lead sinkers for fishing. Many governments and organizations are also focused on promoting the use of safer, non-toxic sinker alternatives. NEWMOA is launching a new P2Rx Topic Hub on Lead Sinkers that describes the different kinds of lead-containing fishing tackle, lead free alternatives, and the regulatory and assistance approaches states and others have taken to limit or eliminate this use of lead.
For more information contact: visit http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/topichub/toc.cfm?hub=113&subsec=7&nav=7.
Northeast Assistance & P2 News Seeks to Reduce Paper Waste
As a way to save paper and printing costs, NEWMOA would like to transition readers of this newsletter to electronic distribution, where appropriate and desirable. To receive the newsletter via email, please use the form on the back of this newsletter, or send an email to
requesting a change in the delivery method and indicating the email address to use. Thanks for helping to reduce paper waste!
Pollution Prevention News!
NEWMOA's Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange (P2Rx) Center collects and publishes online assistance and P2-related news items. P2News is frequently updated – so check in regularly.
http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/p2news/.
| NORTHEAST ASSISTANCE & P2 CALENDAR For more up-to-date listings of upcoming events, visit www.newmoa.org/ |
|||
| TITLE | SPONSOR | DATE / LOCATION | CONTACT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy Efficiency Workshops | MA OTA | April 15 in Holyoke, MA; April 30 in Marlborough, MA | (617) 626-1068 |
| Water Conservation Workshops | MA OTA | April 18 in Marlborough, MA; April 29 in Holyoke, MA | (617) 626-1068 |
| Summit on Sustainable Business Practices | iHollywood Forum | April 25; New York, NY | www.businessgoesgreen.com/newyork/ |
| Go Green Expo | Go Green Expo | April 26-17; New York, NY | www.gogreenexpo.com |
| Ceres Conference 2008 | Ceres | April 29-30; Boston, MA | www.ceres.org |
| Climate Change & Land Use Conference | Law Seminars International | May 5-6; Tarrytown, NY | www.lawseminars.com |
| Resource Conservation Planning | TURI | May 6; Waltham, MA | www.turi.org |
| Electronics & the Environment | IEEE | May 19-21; San Francisco, CA | www.regconnect.com/content/isee/ |
| 19th Annual Nonpoint Source Conference | NEIWPCC | May 19-21; Groton, CT | www.neiwpcc.org |
| 2008 National Environmental Partnership Summit | NPPR | May 19-22; Baltimore, MD | www.environmentalsummit.org/ |
| Integrated Emergency Planning: A Step-by-Step Approach | EPA, Harvard | May 29; Boston, MA | www.hsph.harvard.edu/ccpe/programs/oneplan.shtml |
| Clean Technology Conference | CSI | June 1-5; Boston, MA | www.csievents.org/Cleantech2008/participate/authors/ |
| 4th National Product Stewardship Forum | PSI | June 3-5; Boston, MA | www.productstewardship.us |
| NRRA’s 27th Annual Recycling Conference Expo | NRRA | June 9-10; Nashua, NH | www.nrra.net/conference.html |
| MSWG 2008 Workshop | MSWG | June 16-18; New York, NY | www.mswg.org |
| Science & Sustainability | AWMA | June 24-27; Portland OR | www.awma.org/ACE2008/ |
| Lean & Green Summit | Association for Manufacturing Excellence | July 17-18; Boulder, CO | www.leanandgreensummit.com/ |
| Nanotechnology & Renewable Energy Summit | NanoBusiness Alliance | July 20-22; Denver, CO | www.nanoenergysummit.org/ |
| International Conference on Environmental Science & Technology | American Academy of Sciences | July 28-30; Houston, TX | www.aasci.org/conference/env/2008/ |
| Scaling Up: Building Tomorrow’s Solutions | ACEE | August 17-22; Pacific Grove, CA | www.aceee.org |
| Power Plant Air Pollutant Control “Mega” Symposium | AWMA | August 25-28; Baltimore, MD | www.megasymposium.org |
| Greening Up Your Bottom Line | VT SBDC | September 26; Burlington, VT | (802) 241-3626 |
| North American Hazardous Materials Management | NAHMMA | October 13-17; Burlington, VT | www.nahmma.org |
Northeast Waste Management Officials' Association (NEWMOA)
NEWMOA is a non-profit, non-partisan interstate governmental association. The membership is composed of state environmental agency directors of the pollution prevention, hazardous and solid waste, and waste site cleanup programs in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
NEWMOA's mission is to develop and sustain an effective partnership of states to explore, develop, promote, and implement environmentally-sound solutions for the reduction and management of materials and waste, and for the remediation of contaminated sites, in order to achieve a clean and healthy environment. The group fulfills this mission by providing a variety of support services that:
NEWMOA's Assistance and P2 Program was established in 1989 to enhance the capabilities of the state and local government environmental officials in the Northeast to implement effective multimedia source reduction and assistance programs to promote sustainability and improvement in public health and the environment. The program is called the Northeast Assistance & Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NE A & P2 Roundtable). This program involves the following components:
For more information contact: Terri Goldberg, NEWMOA (617) 367-8558 x302, , or visit www.newmoa.org/prevention.
NE Assistance & Pollution Prevention News
Northeast Assistance & Pollution Prevention News is published a few times per year by NEWMOA's Northeast Assistance & Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NE A & P2 Roundtable). The publication is provided free to the Northeast states, EPA, and other interested individuals and is supported by funds from EPA Region 1-New England and the Northeast States.
The NE A & P2 Roundtable would like to thank the following people for writing and producing this newsletter: Karen Angelo, MA TURI; Tom Armstrong, RI DEM; Dave Aucoin, NBC; Rachel Colella, NEWMOA; Peter Cooke, ME DEP; Peter Crawford, VT SBDC; Marcia Deegler, MA OSD; Michael DiGiore, NJ DEP; Gary Gulka, VT DEC; Doug Kievit-Kylar, VT DEC; Sara Johnson, NH DES; Kurt Larson, NYS OGS; Dennis Lucia, NYS DEC; Jim McCaughey, NBC; Christopher McIsaac, MA OTA; Kim Trella, CT DEP; Paul Walsh, MA DEP, and Barry Wenskowicz, NBC. Terri Goldberg managed production of the newsletter.
Please use the form at the back of this issue to request an address change, to add your name to the mailing list, or to request an electronic version of the newsletter.
P2Rx
The Northeast A & P2 Roundtable is a member of the Pollution Prevention Resource Exchange, P2Rx, a national network of regional P2 information centers linked together to facilitate information retrieval from experts around the country.
For more information visit: http://www.newmoa.org/prevention/ or www.P2Rx.org/.
Northeast Assistance & Pollution Prevention News
____ I would like to receive the Northeast Assistance & P2 News via email. I've included my e-mail address below.
____ Please add my name to the Northeast Assistance & P2 News mailing list.
____ Please remove my name from the mailing list.
____ Please change my address (send us your old mailing label and list the new address below).
Name ___________________________________________________________________
Company/Agency/Organization ______________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________________________
City ___________________________________ State ________ ZIP_________________
Email address (please print clearly) ___________________________________________
Return this form to: NEWMOA, 129 Portland Street, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02114, fax: (617) 367-0449, email:
.