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1999 Pollution Prevention Environmental Excellence Awards
Wichita - Sedgwick County Department of Community Health The Wichita-Sedgwick County Department of Community Health provides
pollution prevention education to target businesses. Within those target
businesses they have established a collection system for Kansas’
small quantity hazardous waste generators. They accomplish this through
a pre-qualification process for businesses that helps them with small
quantity generator disposal options. Target industries benefit further
from specific pollution prevention education workshops, in areas such
as automobile services, dry cleaning and dentistry. This winner has also
given one-on-one site evaluations to help individual businesses gain greater
understanding in pollution prevention techniques. The Wichita-Sedgwick
County Department of Community Health synergized its efforts by working
with the Chamber of Commerce, university programs at KU and K-State, business
associations and assistance programs, the water & sewer department
and other many other local partners. Together with the target businesses,
this team has diverted over 50,000 pounds of waste from local landfill
and sewer operations. The waste exchange program they fostered has given
new value to more than 18,000 pounds of waste. These collective efforts
demonstrate an award winning effort towards community pollution prevention.
Bridging the Gap
Bridging the Gap and with their local partners have established a venue
for consumer education and income production. They created two recycling
centers near low-income housing that purchase aluminum and old newsprint
from residents. These Centers rely on local organizations for clientele
and leadership. The Minute Circle Friendly House provides the driving
force in organizing the newest Center. Each Center offers a range of wide
environmental education – from auto emissions to water conservation,
and of course, recycling tips. The Centers do not make direct cash payments.
They provide secure vouchers that can be redeemed at a local grocer’s
for cash. This further builds community and recycling awareness through
the integration of local businesses. The City of Kansas City and its Housing
Authority have been keystone supporters of the efforts in the low-income
communities. The success is not measure solely by the participation of
the residents, but also over 30 community organizations that now use recycling
income. Collectively, the residents and community organizations have diverted
33,000 pounds of material from landfills. These partners and their successes
in environmental education and recycling collection exceed the standard
for pollution prevention for environmental justice.
Kansas Electric Utilities Research Program
The Kansas Electric Utilities Research Program has developed an innovative
means to explore pollution from automobiles. In pursuit of a road rally,
high school students learn the viability and efficiency of electricity
for transportation purposes, then build electric cars. The students also
learn about the emissions from standard, internal combustion engines and
the effects that has upon air quality. This year, 34 Kansas high schools
competed in the race. Deans from Kansas’ engineering schools have
developed scholarships for the student participants. The U.S. Department
of Energy helps fund the solar power for eight vehicles. Student builders
are generally under a very limited budget and they learn re-use automotive
parts. The Kansas Electric Utilities Research Program provides an innovative
way for students and their communities to explore transportation and its
general pollution effects on the environment.
Nebraska Hills Resource Conservation and Development
The Nebraska Hills Resource Conservation and Development group has tackled
a prevalent environmental issues for rural areas. They collect, manage
and recycle pesticide containers. They recognized the risk non-empty pesticide
containers can pose to their farmlands and families. They developed a
series of technical and resource partnerships to make their efforts successful.
They brought on local resource partnerships, such as the Omaha Tribe of
Nebraska & Iowa and Papio-Missouri River Natural Resource District,
for collection and container management resources. Commercial firms, such
as Farmers Cooperative Associations and local businesses, also served
as key collection points. Tri-Rinse of Saint Louis helped them with the
container shredding and transportation matters. These collective efforts
diverted over 22,650 pesticide containers from the landfills or open burning.
The plastic material can be recycled into new containers or substitute
lumber. For their collaborative successes in addressing a significant
rural challenge of pesticide containers, Nebraska Hills Resource Conservation
and Development is recognized with a Community Pollution Prevention Award.
Celotex Corporation
Celotex Corporation designed and operates a new process that converts
their waste gypsum wallboard into a suitable raw material for remanufacturing
into gypsum wallboard. The solution not only leaves the environment cleaner,
but it creates an on-going recycling process that saves money and produces
a new revenue stream. Celotex worked with local business development and
government officials to finance their plant modifications. The newly designed
processes consume current waste generation of 20 tons per day and also
will eventually consume the backlog of 100,000 tons of waste. The process
to date has diverted 55,000 pounds of waste wallboard for a savings of
$329,000 raw materials costs and $400,000 landfill costs. Celotex Corporation
through these award-winning pollution prevention efforts is creating an
environmentally preferable product.
Washington County Recycling Assn.
The Washington County Recycling Association is a very special organization.
It relies on all-volunteer resources to accomplish its efforts. This group
has upwards of 1,000 volunteers that promote recycling, collect recyclable
material and market the materials collected. They have diverted six million
pounds of glass, newspaper, cardboard, magazines, plastics and aluminum
from the landfill. They realize the marketing products is a necessary
activity to complete the recycle equation, so among other efforts they
are actively working to find markets for newspaper insulation or livestock
bedding. The Washington County Recycling Association demonstrates a community
can come together to establish an award-winning community pollution prevention
program.
Kansas Army National Guard
The Kansas Army National Guard uses pollution prevention philosophy to reduce the amount of hazardous materials used /generated and conserve natural and fiscal resources. This has had a phenomenal impact, both in terms of waste reduction and cost savings. They have been able to reduce their needs for toxic and hazardous materials. They have modified processes or found substitute products that replace the more toxic materials. The Kansas Army National Guard reduced hazardous waste generation 72%. They eliminated a 16,900 pound waste solvent stream. They changed battery specifications to accommodate a non-leaking, longer life span, non-lead acid battery and saved $125,000. They modified paint removal processes to eliminate 13,900 pounds of waste and $5,800 disposal costs. The Kansas Army National Guard is a true 1999 champion of pollution prevention.
