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NPPR News

Summer 2021

Message from the Chair

by Laura Henne

In order to thrive as an organization, NPPR needs active members. One way to become more involved is to serve on the Board of Directors.

Board members help NPPR to:

  • Set organizational policy and strategic direction
  • Develop and periodically update the organization's mission, goals and objectives
  • Ensure that the mission, goals and objectives of the organization are carried out
  • Protect the organization's financial well-being

The Board consists of:

  • one representative from each of the 10 EPA regions,
  • 4 at-Large representative, and
  • a past chair.
Board members are elected to one three-year term, which runs from October 1– September 30. They may serve two consecutive terms as regional representatives.

We are now seeking nominations for EPA Regions 4, 5, 7, 9, and At-Large. Nominations are due by July 15. Ballots will be distributed on August 15.

If you're interested in serving, please send a brief bio for the ballot to laura.henne@dep.nj.gov

Volunteer to serve

MVP2 Awards: Spotlight on the Fred Granek Memorial P2 Ambassador Award

Since 1995, NPPR has recognized the very best in Pollution Prevention with its annual Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) Awards. Awardees are announced in September during P2 week.

The Fred Granek Memorial P2 Ambassador award has special meaning. NPPR established this award in honor of Fred Granek who suddenly passed away in January 2014. It is given to an individual who has demonstrated the same passion for pollution prevention that Fred demonstrated throughout his 39 year career in environmental protection.

This award also recognizes those who travel beyond their own borders to share information, ideas, and technologies that will avoid, eliminate and reduce impacts in an effort to make the world a better place.

In 2019, this award was given to Michael Simpson of the City of Los Angeles Sanitation & Environment.

2020 P2 Ambassador: Mark Rossi, Executive Director, Clean Production Action

As manager of LA’s Pretreatment program, Simpson ushered in what colleagues termed “a new culture” concerning innovative pollution prevention strategies, for thousands of employees.

Described as an “agent of change” by his agency, Simpson created a Project Management Guideline handbook for LA Sanitation with collaborative web based tools and an “L.A. Industry” program, a program that has shifted the regulatory culture to one that now includes collaboration, allowing businesses to thrive.

Simpson’s symposiums, webinars and events have helped demystify regulations, assist businesses with compliance, and incentivize more efficient manufacturing. Michael, along with others, has been actively creating outreach sessions for individuals interested in joining the City as Environmental Compliance Inspectors, Wastewater Operators and Wastewater Collection Workers or other positions in the clean water field.

With assistance, Michael has developed and delivered an exam preparation course for Environmental Compliance Inspectors, a growing class in the City of Los Angeles.

To nominate someone for an award, visit the MVP2 Awards web page.

You can nominate your own staff person or a staff person in another organization. Submit a separate nomination form for each nominee. Submissions will be kept confidential by the review panel until the awardee is announced.

NPPR members may nominate at no charge. There is a $50 fee per nomination submitted for non-members. The deadline for this year's awards is July 31, 2021.

Nominate someone today!

Workgroup updates

About NPPR Workgroups

NPPR's workgroups bring together P2 professionals from across the country to share ideas, information, and deliverables. The topical areas coincide with EPA national emphasis areas and other areas of interest to the P2 community.

NPPR currently hosts six active workgroups. They are:

Food & Beverage

The next NPPR F&B Workgroup Roundtable will take place on July 19 from 1-2 ET

Bring your project ideas, questions, obstacles and topics of interest to the group. Be prepared to share, discuss, network, and collaborate.

Contact Joy Onasch at joy@turi.org for more information on this workgroup. 

Register

Metal Manufacturing & Fabrication

The Metal Manufacturing & Fabrication Workgroup met on June 10, 2021. Members briefly introduced their programs and upcoming events.

This group will continue to meet quarterly and include presentations from subject matter experts on topics like solvent alternatives, metalworking fluids, chemical assessment, toxicity rating, best practices, industry success stories, the new 6H new ruling for painting, PFAS alternatives, and other topics of interest to the particpants.

If you are interested in joining the MFF workgroup, please contact Jennifer Kong at Jennifer.Kong@lacity.org or visit the workgroup page.

Private Sector P2 Professionals

The workgroup held its first meeting on June 18. NPPR Board members Rick Reibstein and Greg Geyer joined pioneer P2 professional Robert Pojasek in launching a public discussion of the importance of articulating the value of the preventive approach.

The hosts focused on the utility of heightening awareness of the principle of “trying prevention first” because knowledge of P2 is widespread in industry and commerce, but not by that name and the number of government P2 professionals has dwindled.

Although efforts to achieve sustainability, implement environmental management systems, or claim social responsibility include P2, the subsuming of the approach in these and other contexts means that P2 has lost meaning as a useful, transferable concept.

Participants on the call came from all parts of the United States. They agreed that there are benefits to a coalescence of the voices of P2 professionals and that there are many professionals in the private sector who believe in the value of a preventive strategy.

If you would like to join this workgroup or have questions, email Rick Reibstein at rreibste@bu.edu, with PSP2P in the subject line.

From the states

Region 1

TURI hosts CD Aero Virtual Demonstration

CD Aero, located in New Bedford, shared lessons learned as they eliminated the use of n-propyl bromide (nPB), a TURA Higher Hazard Substance that is "reasonably anticipated to be a human carcinogen" by the National Toxicology Program.

A leading manufacturer of film capacitors for industrial, medical and military applications, CD Aero received a TURI industry grant that offset the cost of a new degreaser. To verify a safer and effective cleaning solution to use in the new equipment, the company enlisted the testing services of the TURI lab.

Senior Manufacturing Engineer Ken Baron discussed the company’s approach, return on investment and a surprising benefit of making the switch. The presentation includes video clips of the manufacturing process and the new equipment in action.

Watch the video

New Hampshire Sustainable Craft Beverage Program helps companies reduce or eliminate waste at the source

In New Hampshire, most craft beverage producers have a strong culture of sustainability. The New Hampshire Sustainable Craft Beverage Program helps them get to where they want to be.

Through partnerships with the New Hampshire Brewers Association, NHSAVES, Eversource, NH Electric Co-op, Unitil, Liberty and the BrewLab at the University of New Hampshire, the program has been assisting breweries in New Hampshire for two years. They are now expanding to all craft beverage producers including wineries, distilleries, meaderies, cideries, and hard seltzer brewers.

The program is currently partnering with U.S. EPA Region 1 and ENERGY STAR on the Sustainable Solutions for Craft Beverage Producers webinar series. The sessions include:

They have also hosted a webinar on brewery wastewater treatment successes and partnered with several breweries on a video about reducing water use.

The program's website also includes information on best management practices, managing wastewater, energy efficiency, and solar, fermenter control, and gas solutions.

Learn more about the program

TURI information assists communities with selecting safer alternatives for athletic fields

In response to community requests for information about chemicals in and safer alternatives to artificial turf, TURI developed a list of answers to frequently asked questions. They have also published a guide to safer options, as well as case studies of projects in Springfield, Marblehead, and Martha's Vineyard, MA.

Region 3

Three student startups win $10,000 each in 'Shark Tank'-style competition hosted by PennTAP

Three Penn State student startups each won $10,000 for their startups in the annual “Shark Tank”-style Inc.U Competition hosted by the Pennsylvania Technical Assistance Program (PennTAP).

The three winning startups are:

As part of PennTAP’s Inc.U Competition, the three teams competed against three additional student companies from across the commonwealth for up to $30,000 in funding on WPSU-TV’s “The Investment”. It was also released as a  web episode.

Watch the web episode

Region 5

New ISTC case study features implementation of composting program at Argonne National Laboratory campus

What began in 2015 as a waste audit that revealed high-generation of compostable material has led to a multi-year, multi-project implementation plan to collect compostable material from buildings across Argonne National Laboratory’s campus. Argonne’s commitment has diverted over 65 tons from the landfill since 2018, which has helped them meet their federally-mandated performance goal of 50% diversion for non-hazardous wastes.

In order to characterize the types of waste, ISTC’s applied scientists collected over 7,000 pounds of landfill and recycling-bound materials from eight representative campus buildings and sorted it into 23 material categories over a 10-day sampling period. The audit revealed that 43% (by weight) of the materials in Argonne’s landfill stream were compostable. Based on these findings, Argonne and ISTC collaborated to develop and execute an organics collection implementation plan for the campus.

Read the full case study

ISTC is hiring an Assistant Research Scientist, Industrial Water Engineering

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC), part of the Prairie Research Institute (PRI) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, seeks to hire a Visiting Assistant Research Scientist, Industrial Water Engineering to develop and oversee projects related to institutional water treatment and management and environmental sustainability, including:

  • building water management, treatment, and monitoring,
  • energy efficiency, and
  • water treatment chemical reduction and management.

These projects are extramurally funded. The successful candidate will function as both a project lead and project team member.

Applications must be received by July 2, 2021. 

Apply today

MnTAP highlights achievements in 2020 IMPACT report

Remote work restrictions, distancing requirements and general business slowdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led MnTAP to reinvent its approach to delivering technical assistance services to Minnesota businesses.

Despite the challenges, nearly 400 businesses across the state received assistance from MnTAP engineers and scientists; 31 facilities have implemented 40 MnTAP recommended process changes and realized reductions totaling nearly 8.1 million gallons of water, 877,700 pounds of waste, 1.2 million kWh and 23,400 therms of energy.

Combined, these reductions are saving companies $1.1 million annually.

    Read the full report

    Region 9

    GreenUP! begins Metal Manufacturer & Finishers Environmental Certification Program

    GreenUP!, Nevada's green business network, is offering free training to small and medium businesses in the metal manufacturing and finishing sector.

    The training will address marketplace challenges faced by metal manufacturers and finishers, including 

    • hazardous materials management,
    • compliance with environmental inspections and regulations and,
    • marketplace competitiveness.

    Participants will learn how metal finishing operations have reduced waste and saved money. They will learn how to use LEAN manufacturing techniques to identify waste in a business and maximize profits and risk management systems that reduce potential liability from environmental, health and safety issues. 

    During the training, manufacturers will be encouraged to become green certified in states that have green business programs. Up to 20 hours of free technical assistance is available to Nevada businesses with identified projects.

    The training is on seven Wednesdays beginning on July 14 and ending on October 6th. Sponsors include the City of Los Angeles and NPPR. The training and technical service is made possible with grant funding provided from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

    Register by June 30, 2021.

    Questions? Contact:

    Donna Walden 
    greenUP! 
    info@greenupnow.biz 

      Learn more and register

      Region 10

      PPRC and Oregon DEQ host events for Oregon metal finishers

      The Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) is working with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality on an outreach project with Oregon metal finishers.

      We began by researching the needs of industry through surveys. The survey responses indicated that metal finishers in Oregon are care about the safety of their employees and community and want to avoid violations and fines. They need technical assistance and money to assist with research or project implementation.

      PPRC and Oregon DEQ are also hosting a series of roundtables for Oregon metal finishers. The first Roundtable was held virtually on May 12. The 90-minute event included a technical presentation on safer alternatives to vapor degreasing and an industry presentation on how one facility determined the source of zinc in stormwater and reduced it. Facilitated peer breakout sessions followed. They are using the ADKAR (Awareness, Desire, Knowledge, Ability, and Reinforcement) model of behavior change as the organizational foundation for the roundtables.   

      The project team found it difficult to engage participants virtually. They hope to be able to move to in-person meetings for the next roundtable in September. They are also also looking for more ways to engage the industry by providing interactive exercises, such as reviewing and updating their required Toxics Use Reduction plans.

        Contact PPRC for more information

        PPRC develops fact sheet on ultrasonic aqueous parts cleaning for auto repair shops

        PPRC has developed a fact sheet to demonstrate how ultrasonic cleaning can be used in auto repair facilities. It includes a best practices checklist, two case studies, and a list of resources.
          Read the fact sheet

          U.S. EPA news

          White House releases facts sheets with connections to EPA P2 program

          The White House has released fact sheets on how President Biden's American Jobs Plan advances racial equity and supports rural America. Both fact sheets emphasize how the plan would impact manufacturing and economic development, provide opportunities to support environmental justice and tribal communities, and reduce the impacts of climate change.

          New publications

          P2 101 LibGuide: Focus on green chemistry, risk management, and less toxic alternatives

          The Pollution Prevention 101 LibGuide offers links to a wealth of information for P2 technical assistance providers.

          The green chemistry, solvent substitution, and risk management page includes links to:

          Visit the P2 101 LibGuide

          Circular Transition Indicators (CTI)

          WBCSD and 30 companies shaped the Circular Transition Indicators (CTI) v2.0 to support business need for a universal and consistent way to measure its circularity. 
            Access the framework

            A Circular Economy for Solar Photovoltaic System Materials: Drivers, Barriers, Enablers, and U.S. Policy Considerations

            This DOE report analyzes drivers, barriers, and enablers to a circular economy for PV system materials in the United States. It includes a discussion of:

            • federal, state, and local requirements that apply to the reuse, recycling, and disposal of PV modules and BOS equipment, as well as the legal liability associated with non-compliance;
            • state policies and initiatives in the United States that expressly address reuse, recycling, and disposal of PV system equipment;
            • case studies of U.S. business models for the repair, reuse, recycling of PV modules and BOS equipment.
            Download the report

            Communicating Science LibGuide

            This beginner's guide to communicating science is geared toward helping scientists (and technical assistance providers) more effectively communicate the importance of the work they do.
            View the guide

            The Chief Sustainability Officer 10 Years Later: The Rise of ESG in the C-Suite

            The role of Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO) is undergoing profound shifts, including expanding beyond the ‘E’ of ESG and the climate crisis to include social justice and equity, recognizing the intersectionality of enormously complex challenges. This report by the Weinreb Group looks at how the position of CSO has changed since 2011.

            Download the publication

            From Idea to Implementation: A Campus-Wide Composting Program: Recovering Organic Materials at Argonne National Laboratory

            What began in 2015 as a waste audit that revealed high-generation of compostable material led to a multi-year, multi-project implementation plan of compostable material collection in buildings across Argonne National Laboratory’s campus that has diverted over 65 tons from the landfill since 2018.

            Download the publication

            Ultrasonic Aqueous Parts Cleaning in Auto Repair

            This PPRC fact sheet includes tips, best practices, brief success stories, and cost benefit analyses for switching to ultrasonic systems in auto repair shops.

            Download the publication

            Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA): A Practical Guide to Implementing Water Replenishment Targets

            The objective of the guide is to assist practitioners with the application of the Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA) method during the implementation of activities to meet corporate and/or site water replenishment targets.

            Practitioners should use the information provided here only after having read and understood the content outlined in “Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting (VWBA): A Method for Implementing and Valuing Water Stewardship Activities” (Reig et al. 2019).

            Download the publication

            WWF Water Risk Filter

            The Water Risk Filter is a practical online tool that helps companies and investors assess and respond to water-related risks facing their operations and investments across the globe.

            Access the tool

            Submit a story 

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            Share it in the newsletter!

            Upcoming events

            Sustainable Solutions for Craft Beverage Producers: How to Cultivate a Culture of Sustainability at Your Facility
            Jun 22, 2021, 1 pm EDT

            Register today

            Recycling and Materials Management in the Spirits Industry
            Jun 30, 2021, 1:30 pm EDT

            Register today