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Environmental Achievement Award Winners 2009
Nine organizations and one individual are being recognized for their efforts. All the recipients have exemplified the concept of pollution prevention, having achieved sustained and measurable environmental results. Their innovative techniques serve as models for others to replicate and build upon.
An award ceremony was held on September 16, 2009 at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. NBC10 news anchor Terry Ruggles, a 30-year veteran of Philadelphia journalism and host of the Green Scene, was the keynote speaker.
The following are the 2009 Environmental Achievement Award recipients:
- Healthy Food in Health Care (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- Temple University - Computer Recycle Center (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
- National Energy Technology Laboratory (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
- Earth Conservancy (Ashley, Pennsylvania)
- Lehigh Valley Health Network (Allentown, Pennsylvania)
- Amy Deller Jacobs (Dover, Delaware)
- AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals, LP (Wilmington, Delaware)
- Cecil County Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Management (Cecil County Maryland)
- National Security Agency (Ft. Meade, Maryland)
1/The Women's Health & Environmental Network (WHEN) for establishing the Healthy Food in Healthcare program that provides a holistic approach to sustainable, healthy foods by engaging hospitals to commit to sustainable procurement, menu offerings and disposal practices. WHEN educates hospitals on their huge environmental footprint and ways to mitigate climate change through smarter, healthier food choices.
2/Temple University in Philadelphia for establishing its Computer Recycle Center that could serve well as a model for other universities and large businesses. Originally a safe disposal collection facility for computer equipment, the recycle center has grown into a dynamic assembly line operation in which equipment is picked up from departments, cataloged, evaluated, salvaged and when possible, refurbished. During 2008, the center processed more than 2,000 computers and 1,800 monitors, and donated more than 300 refurbished computers to non-profit organizations and schools.
3/The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia for demonstrating leadership and innovation in the area of sustainability in healthcare. Since 2007, the hospital’s recycling has increased significantly and its biohazard waste has decreased significantly. CHOP has a variety of recycling and re-usage programs in place including: cardboard, paper, confidential paper, glass, plastics, metals, pallets, kitchen grease, oil, light bulbs, e-waste, linens, batteries, excess supplies donation, carpet, toner cartridges and OR blue wraps. All of these programs have been able to flourish due to training, encouragement and recognition.
Pittsburgh
4/Pittsburgh’s National Energy Technology Laboratory will receive the award for accomplishing and sustaining significant measurable environmental results for more than 20 clearly defined environmental issues at its campuses in Pittsburgh and Morgantown, W. Va. Accomplishments include milestones in waste minimization, pollution prevention, energy conservation, green procurement, and recycling initiatives.
5/The Earth Conservancy from Ashely, Pa. will be recognized for its work in reclaiming abandoned mine property in Luzerne County. Earth Conservancy was recognized for spearheading efforts to reutilize former coal company-owned lands in Luzerne County. After obtaining a $14 million federal grant in 1993 and raising$2 million from the private sector, Earth Conservancy purchased approximately 16,300 acres of land from the estate of the former Blue Coal Corporation, which had declared bankruptcy in the mid-1970s. The group then created several comprehensive land use plans to guide its reclamation and restoration. To date, Earth Conservancy has reclaimed 1,216 acres at a cost of $20.3 million, with another 1,142 acres in-process, at an estimated cost of $55.7 million.
6/The Lehigh Valley Health Network of Allentown, Pa. will be recognized for environmentally-related achievements that include decreasing its waste disposal, implementing new and innovative recycling programs, establishing environmental awareness training programs for employees and initiating a composting pilot program.
Two winners will be recognized from Delaware – a state employee who worked on a promising environmental project and a major corporation that has established itself as a strong steward of the environment:
7/Amy Jacobs from the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control for her work in establishing the agency’s Wetland Monitoring and Assessment Program. She has strengthened the network of individuals and groups that are working to protect wetlands throughout Delaware by providing scientifically valid data and opening avenues for better communication to improve restoration and protection of wetlands.
8/AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals for its commitment to energy conservation, waste reduction, pollution prevention, and environmentally-conscious travel. The company understands that green makes a great workplace, and motivates employees to support environmental improvement efforts at work and at home. Achievements include attaining Energy Star certification of certain buildings, replacing fleet vehicles with hybrids, reducing hazardous waste and its employees’ enthusiastic embrace of the EPA Change a Light/Change the World energy conservation campaign.
Two from Maryland – the Solid Waste Management Division of Cecil County government and the National Security Agency facility in Fort Meade:
9/The Solid Waste Management Division in Cecil County’s Department of Public Works for its proactive approach to recycling, environmental education and other environmental programs. The initiatives taken by Cecil County were especially important because of the county’s close proximity to the Chesapeake Bay. Located in the northeastern corner of the state, five rivers flow through the county forming the head of the Chesapeake Bay.
10/National Security Agency in Fort Meade for its recycling efforts. In 2008, the agency’s Fort Meade campus recycled more than 11 million pounds (5,815 tons) of materials. All money earned from recycling efforts is used to improve future recycling activities, to support pollution prevention initiatives, and to fund morale, welfare, and recreation activities that benefit the workforce.
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