ALASKA

Improving Air Quality in Alaska

        Green Star recently signed a contract with the Municipality of Anchorage's Department of Health and Human Services to complete several air quality projects during 2004. During this winter/spring season, Green Star hopes to initiate several of the projects, which will continue through fall and winter. Several pilot projects aim to encourage employees at local businesses to use alternative means of transportation by offering free bus passes and developing employer-run incentive programs. Other projects include timer giveaways, store displays, and education and outreach campaigns to encourage the use of vehicle plug-ins and timers. Check out www.greenstarinc.org.

Saving Energy in Rural Alaskan Villages

        The Rural Alaska Village Environmental Network (RAVEN) Electrical Savings Initiative is a project of the Rural Alaska Community Action Program (RurAL CAP). The Electrical Savings Initiative (ESI) focuses on education activities and installing electrical energy conservation products in rural Alaska to empower participants to reduce both individual and community dependence on expensive electrical resources. The program works with participants at the individual, community, and regional level. The Electrical Savings Initiative provides home energy assessments, education and energy-saving incentives to residents in each of the 75 rural communities that RurAL CAP works with. In 2003 - 2004, RAVEN members and local ESI Techs performed assessments and provided energy upgrades on a total of 1,450 low income homes receiving energy assistance. RurAL Cap estimates that each low-income homeowner will save an average of $300 savings per home per year. Projected lifetime savings of all the products installed in low-income Alaskan homes, is estimated to be approximately $1,350,000. For more information on this project, see www.ruralcap.com/Electrical_Savings/index.htm.

IDAHO

Small Business Assistance Program Moves to Small Business Development Center

        The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and Idaho Small Business Development Center (SBDC) have entered into an agreement relocating the state's 507 Small Business Assistance Program from DEQ to the Idaho SBDC. Small Business Liaison Sally Tarowsky, who has worked for DEQ for 10 years, will be housed at the SBDC where she will continue to provide environmental compliance assistance to small businesses in the state. DEQ spearheaded the program shift, in consultation with the Idaho Legislature's Environmental Common Sense Committee, state budget officials, DEQ program heads, and small business owners, to provide a "one-stop shop" where small businesses can obtain on-site environmental assistance in addition to tax, labor, and other advice provided by the Idaho SBDC.
Special projects for the year include:

Hosting conferences for Construction Operations impacted by the Storm Water Phase II regulations;

Hosting a conference for Conditionally Exempt Small Quantity Generators and Small Quantity Generators;

Developing tools to assist businesses and assistance providers in determining when an air quality permit is needed; and

Developing tools to assist businesses that are subject to the National Emissions Standard for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Surface Coating of Miscellaneous Metal Parts and Products.

For more information, contact Sally Tarowsky at (208) 426-1839 or by e-mail at SallyTarowsky@boisestate.edu

OREGON

New Hazardous Waste Resource for Central and Eastern Oregon

        The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is offering a new hazardous waste technical assistance resource for Central and Eastern Oregon. Jeannette Freeman, a Hazardous Waste Specialist, is available for one on one site visits to help companies understand and comply with hazardous waste regulations and will be coordinating and conducting hazardous waste group training sessions. Upcoming training topics include "Hazardous Waste Basics" and "Managing Common Wastes," encompassing hazardous waste determination; on-site management; permit requirements; record keeping and reporting; emergency planning; exclusions and exemptions; storage and disposal requirements; and spills. Training will be held throughout the year in Bend, Klamath Falls, Pendleton, Ontario, The Dalles and Redmond. Contact Jeannette at (541) 388-6146, ext. 229 or by e-mail at freeman.jeannette@deq.state.or.us.

Fluorescent Tube Recycling in Oregon Hospitals

        As part of the Oregon Healthcare Without Harm Campaign, the Oregon Center for Environmental Health has negotiated a discounted rate for recycling fluorescent tubes for hospitals/healthcare facilities with a local, licensed recycler, Environmental Protection Services. Hospitals signing on to the program will be charged 6 cents per foot to recycle straight tubes, with varying prices for other lamps. Environmental Protection Services will also provide pick-up service and storage containers free of charge throughout the state of Oregon. In the first year of implementation, they have signed up 10 hospitals, resulting in over 60,000 fluorescent lamps diverted from landfills. For more information on this project, contact Neha Patel at (503) 233-1510 or by e-mail at neha@oregon-health.org.

Food Composting in Portland Airport

        Port of Portland and airport restaurants and cafes initiated a food waste collection and composting program this spring. The program accepts pre-consumer food waste (meaning it hasn't been on someone's plate), coffee grounds and filters, bread, waxed cardboard, paper towels and napkins. Each vendor has a special bin for these items, and the contracted hauler transports the contents to Nature's Needs in North Plains, where materials are composted into a farm soil amendment. The program has the potential to divert 200 tons of organic waste annually. For more information, check out www.portlandairportpdx.com.

Port of Portland Now Using Bio-diesel

         The Port of Portland has also begun using plant-based diesel fuel in its trucks and tractors. Diesel fuel is notorious for emitting hazardous air pollutants. Therefore, the Port is substituting 20 percent of the petroleum-based diesel with bio-diesel made from soybeans or mustard seeds. Air pollutants of concern will be reduced by 20 to 30 percent. For more information, check out www.portlandairportpdx.com.

Eco-Logical Business Program for Landscapers

        Landscaping businesses in the Portland area that reduce pollution can now become Eco-Logical businesses. The Eco-Logical Business Program (EcoBiz), started in 1999 with the goal of preventing and minimizing air, water and solid waste pollution generated by small businesses in the tri-county area. The Pollution Prevention Outreach Team from Portland area public agencies is developing a set of "best management practices" that landscapers can use to reduce their impacts on the environment. The team will soon release "A Best Management Practices Guide for Landscape Businesses" with information and tips about complying with environmental regulations, reducing and reusing waste, and reducing costs. Check out www.ecobiz.org for more information.

Changing the Paper Market

        Metafore is a non-profit organization based in Portland, Oregon whose mission is to catalyze business action to restore and preserve forests around the world. Metafore's project, the Paper Working Group, consists of large-volume paper and paperboard buyers who embrace social, environmental and economic responsibility in their business practices and transactions. Metafore convened this group of leading businesses, which includes Hewlett-Packard, McDonald's, Starbucks and Nike, to collectively identify ways to develop a consistent and affordable supply of environmentally preferable paper. Environmentally preferable paper, as defined by the group, contributes to forest conservation, and is manufactured in a way that reduces environmental impacts and results in a reduction in waste. Collectively, the group represents 1% of the global paper market and therefore has the potential to send a powerful signal to the paper industry. The participating businesses of the Paper Working Group seek to meet environmental goals based on their own values and at the same time create a change in present-day paper making and purchasing. For more information, visit www.metafore.org.

Grants Awarded to Innovative Green Building Projects

        In March 2004, Portland's Office of Sustainable Development awarded $100,000 in grants to eleven green building projects throughout Portland. These specialized grants will support building projects designed to achieve a high level of environmental performance, durability, and safety and health through integrated design, emerging technologies and best practices. Winning projects received between $3,000 and $15,000 for items such as an urban study of sustainable stormwater management, a zero-energy home, Portland's first LEED platinum mixed-use development, a home remodel using natural building materials and many more. For more information about these grant projects, visit www.green-rated.org.

Thermostat Recycling Outreach

        The Oregon Environmental Council (OEC) is working to encourage proper stewardship of mercury-containing thermostats. Oregon legislation, proposed by OEC and passed in 2001, phases out the sale of new mercury-containing thermostats by 2006, requires labeling of mercury-containing thermostats still being sold, and requires the manufacturers of such thermostats to offer a free take-back program via the Thermostat Recycling Corporation. However, most mercury-containing thermostats are not currently recycled. OEC is working to increase the number of wholesalers that collect mercury-containing thermostats and to educate contractors about the importance of utilizing this free service. For more information on the Thermostat Recycling Corporation and participating wholesalers, visit www.nema.org/trc or call 1-800-238-8192. For more information on OEC's project, contact Heidi Sickert at (503) 222-1963 ext. 108 or heidi@orcouncil.org.

WASHINGTON

Cleaning Up Diesel Emissions

        Diesel Solutions, an award-winning pollution-prevention program led by the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, is making significant progress toward cleaning up emissions from diesel vehicles throughout the region. Since 2001, this voluntary initiative has provided advice and grants to assist partners to retrofit transit buses, trucks and school buses and switch to ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel. In addition, a statewide school-bus retrofit program funded by the 2003 legislature, is building on the experience from the Clean Air Agency's Diesel Solutions program. More than 1,500 school buses will become cleaner this year as a result of this new program. Retrofit devices combined with clean fuels reduce toxic pollution from diesel vehicles by 50 to 90 percent, depending on the type of retrofit device and fuel used. Clean fuel options include ultra-low-sulfur diesel, biodiesel, and a mix of ultra-low-sulfur diesel and biodiesel. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirement mandating the sale of new low-polluting vehicles takes effect in 2007. However, because diesel engines have long lives, that requirement won't deliver significant benefits until about 2015. To learn more about the Diesel Solutions program, visit www.pscleanair.org/dieselsolutions/index.shtml.

Environmentally Responsible Purchasing Through Innovative Commodities Teams

        The City of Seattle environmentally responsible purchasing efforts are integrated in the work of interdepartmental "Commodities Teams," as well as in various major projects. These Teams are coordinated by the City Purchasing office, and include City purchasing agents as well as staff who use goods and services contracts. A few highlights from the Teams include:

The Janitorial Team, building on last year's work getting several contracts for "green" cleaning products, is examining certain carpet and floor care products, based on their environmental and safety criteria.

The Building Materials Team is investigating ways to obtain sustainably grown and harvested wood in maintenance and repair jobs.

The "Copier Roundtable" is reviewing use of copiers and multifunction devices for printing and copying, to identify potential efficiencies, including reducing environmental impacts.

A paper-waste-reduction committee is starting up, to boost interdepartmental effectiveness in both reducing paper waste overall and using more 100% post-consumer recycled and chlorine-free paper for printing and copying.

For more information on these projects, contact Shirli Axelrod at (206) 684-7804 or by e-mail at shirli.axelrod@seattle.gov.

Unwanted Medications Return program

        Clark County, in partnership with local pharmacies, has established a program to safely dispose of unwanted or outdated medications. The Unwanted Medications Return program will accept prescription or over-the-counter drugs. Medications that are improperly disposed of in the sewer system or landfills may enter drinking water sources. The risks posed to humans by long-term consumption of minute quantities of medications in drinking water and the risks to the environment are still unknown. For more information, contact the Clark County Environmental Services Department at (360) 397-6118 ext. 4352.

NORTHWEST-WIDE PROJECT

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

        The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance will conduct a multi-year study on electric voltage regulation in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana. The study, known as the Distribution Efficiency Initiative (DEI), will determine if and what type of voltage regulation would yield the greatest energy savings: voltage regulated at the home, voltage regulated at a utility's substation or a combination of both. As part of the study, a broad selection of residential customer load types will be evaluated to determine the energy and demand savings as a result of improved voltage regulation. One of these products includes the Home Voltage Regulator, which could reduce household energy usage by as much as 20% by eliminating wasted voltage. If installed in a million homes nationwide, carbon dioxide emissions from power plants could be reduced by 640,000 tons a year. For more information, check out www.nwalliance.org.

 

What's New at PPRC New Database of Northwest P2 Projects    Recent research done during the planning stages of our fluorescent lamp recycling program led us to similar outreach projects that are already underway in Oregon by the Oregon Center for Environmental Health and the Oregon Environmental Council. After contacting these organizations, we received invaluable tips on how to implement similar programs in Washington, not to mention a ton of helpful resources and information (thanks Chris and Neha!). Of course, this experience isn't new in P2, as we hear of similar projects being done all the time (think of all those dental amalgam programs) so we've responded by developing a tool that will help to increase these types of information flows and encourage regional networking. With its expected debut to be in the early summer, this new service will be very similar to this newsletter, highlighting Northwest environmental assistance program activities. For more information on this exciting new resource and to have your projects listed, contact Crispin Stutzman at the PPRC office at (206) 352-2050. Check it out at www.pprc.org/activities/Index.cfm. New "P2 Pays" Marketing Brochure    Recognizing the serious need for a marketing vehicle that would promote the message of P2 more effectively to business and industry, PPRC developed a new marketing brochure called "P2 Pays." This brochure, developed through a grant from the EPA, highlights the millions of dollars in cost savings from Northwest businesses who implemented P2 into their processes over the past decade. The brochure was designed with program compatibility in mind--it includes room for individual P2 programs to be publicized on the back page. We are currently looking into different options of disseminating this new brochure. For more information or to get on the list to receive a camera-ready copy that could be printed by your organization, contact Crispin Stutzman at cstutzman@pprc.org or by phone at (206) 352-2050. P2 Regional Roundtable Update    PPRC hosted the P2 Regional Roundtable on March 17-18, 2004 at the Mountaineers Building in Seattle, Washington. Over 60 public, non-profit, and private sector professionals attended from all over the Northwest to participate in this unique networking event. The latest project updates were shared and workshops were held on Product Stewardship, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Strategies, Lean Manufacturing, and Sustainability Work in Government Programs and Facilities. A few highlights include presentations by speakers from leading Northwest businesses Nike and Batdorf and Bronson Coffee Roasters on their companies' efforts to integrate sustainable principles into their operations through product stewardship. Additionally, Roundtable participants heard from several public and non-profit fundmakers on the latest in fund priorities. This panel included representatives from the Bullitt Foundation, the Seattle Biotech Legacy Foundation, EPA Region 10, and Seattle Public Utilities. To access the minutes, go to www.pprc.org/pprc/pubs/rrt/mar04min.html. If you have suggestions for topics for our next Roundtable, contact Cathy Buller at cbuller@pprc.org or by phone at (206) 352-2050. P2Rx CORNER    The Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center (P2RIC.org) has created an online video library to make pollution prevention and waste reduction videos easily accessible to P2 specialists worldwide. You can watch P2 videos online or download video segments for use in your PowerPoint presentations. The video download capability offers value to educators and trainers who want to add punch to their presentations. Videos can be accessed at www.p2ric.org/video/index.cfm. Also, if your organization has produced or knows of videos that pertain to pollution prevention and would like them to be included in this library, contact Dan O'Dell at (402) 595-1823, or by e-mail at dpodell@mail.unomaha.edu.

 

Portland State University Certificate in Sustainability
        Portland State University in partnership with AXIS Performance Advisors, Inc. is offering a certificate in sustainability. The program marries the science of sustainability with organizational change theory to prepare participants to create credible and applicable business strategies and project plans for implementing sustainability within their organizations. Participants earn a certificate of completion by enrolling in four core courses plus two of the four electives offered each term. All courses are available for individual enrollment as well. Each class is offered as a one day workshop intensive and is held on PSU's campus in Portland. The Spring '04 offering just began on March 26. To register contact Jennifer Allen at (503) 312-5801 or jhallen@pds.edu.

Mayor's Forum on Sustainable Strategies for Business Success and the 2004 BEST Awards Ceremony
        Join the Resource Venture and its program partners as they showcase the winners of the 2004 Seattle BEST (Businesses for an Environmentally Sustainable Tomorrow) Awards. Plus, learn how to incorporate sustainable business practices into your everyday operations through the experience of others. The Forum will feature the following noted speakers and presenters: Gifford Pinchot III (Chairman, Bainbridge Graduate Institute), Eugene Kahn (Vice President, Sustainable Development, General Mills), Lauren Moore (Director, Corporate Social Responsibility, Starbucks), Darrell Aldrich (General Manager, Northwestern Industries), Timothy Taylor (President & CEO, Environmental Home Center), Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels, and many more. The Forum and BEST Awards Ceremony will be held May 13, 2004 from 7:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center in Seattle. It costs $75 to attend the entire forum, including breakfast and lunch. For the BEST Awards only, it costs $25, including breakfast. For more information, call (206) 389-7304 or visit www.resourceventure.org/rv/news/in-the-spotlight/index.php.

Profitable Sustainability: The Future of Business
        This conference is being held at the Westin Hotel in Seattle, WA from September 26-29, 2004. This conference provides an opportunity to advance the growing number of sustainability initiatives in both private and public sectors in the Northwest. It is designed to help businesses develop and implement plans for success in a marketplace that increasingly requires conservation of resources, socially responsible practices, skillful use of new technologies, and accountability to a wider circle of stakeholders. Regional challenges and achievements will be highlighted within a global context of discussion and action for sustainable commerce. For more information, see www.nbis.org/conference.

Solvent Solutions
        The Solvent Solutions workshop is designed to help organizations and businesses of all sizes properly manage and minimize the impacts of solvents. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ), Idaho State University Division of Continuing Education, and Idaho Small Business Development Center have partnered to bring together representatives of local government, state environmental agencies, businesses, and vendors to share information on solvent management. Four identical workshops will be held from May-July 2004. Visit DEQ's Web site at www.deq.state.id.us/assistance1.htm or call (208) 282-3155.

Northwest Sustainability Conference
        The Northwest Sustainability Conference will be held at the Mountaineers Building in Seattle, WA from May 1-2, 2004. This conference is an opportunity to learn about recent developments in sustainability practices. Sessions will be presented by professionals and community organizers who are working towards a more sustainable future. The goal of the conference is to provide practical information, methods and resources to empower attendees to live their lives and practice their work more sustainably. Topics include: alternative energy, sustainable consumer choices, alternative transportation, sustainable urban planning, global climate change, sustainable building practices, native landscaping and much more. For more information, go to the website at www.nwetc.org/sust-400_05-04_seattle.htm.

Executive Order Tackling Flame Retardants
        On January 28, 2004 Washington State Governor Gary Locke signed an Executive Order directing the Department of Ecology, in consultation with the Washington Department of Health, to develop a plan that identifies actions the state may take to reduce threats posed by polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) which are found in certain types of flame retardants. The departments are to recommend actions by December 1, 2004 and begin implementing the plan no later than July 1, 2005. The action plan for PBDEs is one of several tasks Locke included in an executive order on long-lasting, toxic chemicals that build up in the food chain. These "persistent, bioaccumulative toxins" (PBTs) include mercury, dioxin, PCBs and other such chemicals linked to health problems in humans. For further information contact Mike Gallagher at (360) 407-6868 or mgal461@ecy.wa.gov.

Oregon Launches Climate Collaborative
        Governor Kulongoski has launched the Governor's Advisory Group on Global Warming. The purpose of this initiative is to develop by September 2004 a strategy to reduce Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions. Several technical subcommittees will analyze a range of options to forward to the Advisory Group for its consideration. The Governor has issued an open invitation for anyone to participate on any of these subcommittees. The subcommittees are focused on the following topics: energy efficiency, electricity generation, transportation, materials (use, recycling and disposal), biological sequestration, other greenhouse gases, government operations, and outreach. For more information, contact Phil Carver with the Oregon Department of Energy in Salem at philip.h.carver@state.or.us or (503) 378-6874.

Boise Foothills Environmental Education Center
        Site work has begun on the Boise Foothills Environmental Education Center, a collaborative public/private effort. The educational facility is being designed as a model for sustainable building and environmental stewardship. Sustainable Idaho has worked closely with the City of Boise and private partners to help identify and incorporate sustainability, pollution prevention and resource conservation features into the project. Boise Building Solutions donated Sustainable Forestry Initiative-certified wood materials and Idaho Power contributed photovoltaic units. The initial site preparation phase includes the reuse and recycling of materials from an existing structure by a local nonprofit group. They estimate that over 75% of the materials in the existing building will be able to be salvaged for reuse, for an estimated cost savings of $28,000. The completed facility will be available for use by school groups, agencies and others involved in education and stewardship. For more information, contact Helen Rigg at (208) 364-4038 or hrigg@idahogemstars.org.

Washington State Governor's Award for P2 and Sustainability Now Accepting Applications
        Do you know of a business in Washington that is on the cutting edge of P2 and sustainable practices? If so, the Governor's award for pollution prevention and sustainable practices is now accepting applications through June 4, 2004. Judges are looking for businesses that show the benefits of reducing or eliminating the use of toxic materials, preventing solid and hazardous waste, reducing emissions to the air and discharges to the water, and conserving natural resources. They also are looking for businesses that demonstrate excellence and leadership through their commitment to environmental quality and their willingness to share their knowledge of pollution prevention and sustainable practices. For more information, check out www.ecy.wa.gov/sustainability/
GovAward/gov_awards.htm.

Northwest Environment Watch Releases Cascadia Scorecard
        On March 10, 2004, Northwest Environment Watch (NEW) released the Cascadia Scorecard, a new gauge of regional progress that monitors seven key trends-health, economy, population, energy, sprawl, forests, and pollution-that are profoundly shaping the region's future. The Scorecard puts a spotlight on the long view and the questions that most matter over time: Are we living longer, healthier lives? Are we building strong human communities? Are we handing down to our children a place whose ecosystems are regenerating? By highlighting the places who "score" best, the Scorecard will also offer a practical vision for a better Northwest. Check out this unique report at www.northwestwatch.org/scorecard/.

Christine Guiao, Communications Director
        In an attempt to draw out my ethnicity, people often ask me a variant of the question: where are you from? Always puzzled and sometimes caught off guard by such awkward wording, I answer even more awkwardly. "Well…" I reply, taking a deep breath, "my parents and ancestors are from the Philippines, specifically my father's family is from Pampanga and my mother's family from Navotas and the Visayan island of Bohol. I was born in Brooklyn, New York, where my immigrant parents first landed when they arrived in this new land, with nothing more than hope for a better life. We lived there and in the Philippines for short stints before I could really remember much... However, to answer the question, where am I from? Well, I am from here, from Seattle and the Puget Sound region as much as I am from the Philippines."
        It may sound strange but sometimes I feel more connected to this area than I do to the Philippines. After all, I grew up here, spending my childhood exploring dense forests and whiling away summer days searching for neat-looking rocks and shells on the beaches of the Sound. I want to hide away in the basement when it gets hotter than 72 degrees. I take comfort in the sound of the pouring rain and I never, ever use an umbrella. Isn't that enough to make me a tried and true Northwesterner?
        I am excited to join the PPRC team because it gives me a chance to express my love for this special place through my work. Professionally speaking, I have worked in public relations and political organizing roles for Greenpeace, the Industrial Shrimp Action Network, an international environmental coalition focusing on the social and environmental issues surrounding shrimp aquaculture; as well as the Human Rights Campaign in Washington, D.C. and Hawaii. Most recently, I worked at the Small Business Development Center in Bellingham, assisting local businesses in all areas ranging from the development of comprehensive marketing and business plans to financial statement preparation and analysis.
        I graduated from Fairhaven College/Western Washington University with a B.A. in International Business, where I was regarded with equal distrust by both my crunchy granola friends and business school cohorts. I always explained to them my belief that environmental protection and economic vitality are not mutually exclusive, as many of my business professors would have us believe. In fact, our greatest hope for the future lies in our ability to communicate between both activist and business communities as the animosity and distrust only make the problem worse.
        Outside of work, I love to read, spend time with family and friends, hike and backpack, listen to music, and play with my two beagles, Delilah and Lemonhead.