Michigan Retired Engineer Assistance Program P2 site assessment training materials now available

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs’ Retired Engineer Technical Assistance Program (RETAP) received a U.S. EPA State and Tribal Assistance Grant focused on Pollution Prevention (P2). Under this grant, RETAP developed training and guidance documents for a number of P2 tools, as well as templates for conducting on-site technical assistance and source reduction planning (SRP). The materials developed as a result of this grant are now available on the GLRPPR web site.

These materials are specifically designed to reduce toxic/hazardous material usage and disposal at small to mid-sized manufacturers. They include:

For further information on toxics use reduction and pollution prevention site assessments, check out these additional GLRPPR resources:

Workshop: Pollution Prevention and Lean Principles for Food Manufacturers, July 27, Chicago

July 27, 2016, 8 am-5 pm
Ralph H. Metcalfe Federal Building, Lake Huron Room
77 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60604

Cost: $125 (Lunch on your own)

Register at http://go.illinois.edu/P2andLeanWorkshop

Questions? Contact Laura Barnes

This workshop will help you improve the efficiency of your organization by identifying ways to limit pollutants and apply lean principles within an environmental management system.

Lean operating principles help your company improve the bottom line, reduce your regulatory burdens, and increase the overall efficiency of your organization.

Food manufacturers achieve significant savings when they put pollution prevention into practice.

  • Cargill, a major US meat manufacturer, reduced 7,800,000 pounds of methane gas and reduced natural gas by 20-35% by investing in an automated biogas capture system, which saved them $750,000 dollars.
  • Archer Daniels Midland Company (ADM) used a P2 approach to save over $69,000 in reducing air emissions while generating over $250,000 per year by re-using boiler ash as a raw material used for cement, concrete blocks, and other products.
  • Anheuser-Busch installed a multi-stage residuals evaporator which reduced the amount of BOD loadings to the sewer by nearly 23,000 pounds annually saving them $1,500,000.

Although this workshop is targeted at food manufacturers, attendees from other industrial sectors are welcome.

Who should attend?

  • Facility managers
  • Environmental & safety managers & directors
  • Environmental health & safety (EHS) personnel
  • Environmental specialists, planners, and coordinators
  • Environmental engineers
  • Environmental project & program managers
  • Anyone responsible for environmental activities in your organization

Workshop Facilitator

Thomas Vinson, Zero Waste Network

Thomas Vinson has worked for over two decades in the environmental field where he has become known for finding the connection between good business practices, and environmental quality management.

Thomas works closely with a national network of pollution prevention and lean specialists and the EPA to find ways that businesses can save money by reducing waste. Over the past two years, he has worked on projects that have helped companies identify ways to save over 1.5 million dollars, while reducing nearly 7 million tons of waste, three million gallons of water use, and over a million kWh of electricity use.

Michigan DEQ hosts Michigan Sustainable Manufacturing Seminars during P2 Week

Mark your calendars for September 22 (Livonia, MI) and September 25 (Mt. Pleasant). The Second Annual DEQ Sustainable Manufacturing Seminar Series “Michigan Made:  Designing to Sustain the Economy, Environment and Society” is being offered at two locations in conjunction with Pollution Prevention Week 2015. Cost is $65. Register at https://www.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1745717.

The seminar focuses on the diverse stakeholder connections and relationships necessary to achieve long-term economic, societal and environmental vitality for Michigan businesses and communities. Thought-provoking discussions will be led by Michigan-based companies and leaders who will share perspectives and open discussion that explore both the opportunities and the challenges related to energy and water conservation; food waste recycling; sustainable product standards; and the impact of sustainable enterprise on local economic development.

Each seminar will include the following:

  • September 22 – Livonia Keynote Speaker: Diance M. Bunse, Herman Miller
  • September 24 – Mt. Pleasant Keynote Speaker: Gabe Wing, Herman Miller
  • Out of sight, out of mind? The risk of complacency with Michigan’s water & energy resources
  • Sustainable Product Standards: Green expectations of a changing market place
  • Working towards Zero Waste- what does it really mean?
  • Corporate, social opportunities with the Trip Bottom Line: Bill Stough, Sustainable Research Group

These events are designed to support the on-going revitalization of Michigan’s manufacturing communities through innovation and creative problem-solving to address rapid changes in the local and global marketplace.   This includes the framework of the U.S. EPA Economy, Energy, Environment Program http://www2.epa.gov/e3.

Who should attend:

  • Small and Medium Sized Manufacturers/Suppliers
  • Local Government Representatives
  • Lean Consultants
  • Environmental Consultants
  • Original Equipment Manufacturers
  • Universities
  • Community Foundations
  • Economic and Manufacturing Associations

 

NPPR hosts Green Chemistry Guide – Listen and Learn Webinar Series

The City of Los Angeles, the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable (NPPR) and the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Roundtable (WSPPN) announce the availability of the Green Chemistry Guide, developed in collaboration with renowned university professors, industry professionals, and the City of Los Angeles’ engineers.

This manual provides state agencies and technical assistance providers (engineers) with tools and resources to better serve their clients who are looking for information and to support greening their operations, processes, products and supply chains. Business owners can also use the publication to develop and implement green chemistry solutions and improve profitability.

WSPPN and NPPR are cohosting a series of webinars that will cover the content of the manual chapter-by-chapter.  Learn about the green chemistry movement from the authors themselves.

Ch. 5 – The Green Chemistry Mindset and Life Cycle Thinking
Tuesday, September 15 – 1:00 p.m. CDT —  Register

Chapter 5, presented by author Ally LaTourelle, covers what is the green chemistry mindset from different vantage points, the beneficial outcomes for companies that embrace green chemistry principles, and green chemistry and life cycle assessment.

Ch. 4 – Green Engineering and Pollution Prevention & Ch. 6 – Green Chemistry Tools – What’s Out There?
Wednesday, October 21 – 1:00 p.m. CDT —  Register

Jonathan Rivin covers Chapter 4 – Green Engineering and Pollution Prevention and Chapter 6 – Green Chemistry Tools – What’s Out There?

Chapter 4 covers green engineering, the principles of green chemistry, how the green engineering principles relate to P2 concepts and provides case studies of green engineering.

Chapter 6 provides an overview of software tools and guidance documents that can be used for implementing green chemistry principles, what tool to use at different stages in the product life cycle and resources for tool selection.

Ch. 7 – Building the Business Case for Green Chemistry
Monday, November 16 – 1:00 p.m. CDT — Register

Al Innes, Michelle Butler and Kate Winnebeck present Chapter 7 – how to build the business case for green chemistry, the steps needed for initiating a successful program, and accounting for all cost.

Ch. 8 – Implementation of the Green Chemistry Change and Sustaining Success
Tuesday, December 15 – 2:00 p.m. EDT —  Register

Chapter 8, presented by author Lissa McCracken, is the implementation of sustainability practices into business models and integrating pollution prevention and green chemistry strategies and models.

Green Lunchroom Challenge to Assist IL Schools with Food Waste Prevention, Reduction

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, food production represents 10 percent of the total US energy budget, uses 50 percent of US land, and accounts for 80 percent of the freshwater we consume–yet, 40 percent of food in the US goes uneaten. And in 2013, 49.1 million Americans lived in food insecure households, including 33.3 million adults and 15.8 million children. Food waste is clearly both a tremendous problem and opportunity for improving the sustainability of our society. Reducing food waste in schools not only helps to ensure those precious expended resources are providing nutrition as intended, but also provides the opportunity to set important examples of conservation and systems thinking among our impressionable youth, which will hopefully stay with them as they become our next generation of leaders.

The Illinois Sustainable Technology Center (ISTC) is therefore pleased to announce an exciting new project that addresses this important societal and environmental challenge. In order to identify sources of food waste in K-12 schools and facilitate its prevention and reduction, ISTC, in collaboration with the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), UI Extension, and Beyond Green Partners, Inc., is launching the Green Lunchroom Challenge this fall. Funded by US EPA Region 5, the program is open for participation from K-12 schools throughout the state. Marketing of the program will however, be targeted toward underserved regions of southern Illinois, including Pulaski, Alexander, Marion, White, and Fayette counties. According to data from the ISBE, over 70 percent of K-12 students in those counties are eligible for assistance through the National School Lunch Program. By preventing and reducing food waste in these areas particularly, and throughout the state, it is hoped the Challenge will not only achieve environmental benefits, but also stretch federal and state assistance and resources through increased efficiency.

Elementary school students in cafeteria
Photo: USDA Blog

Similar to the successful Illinois Green Office Challenge, the Green Lunchroom Challenge is a voluntary, “friendly competition,” in which participating schools will choose among a variety of suggested activities to improve the sustainability of their food service. These activities will range in complexity and commitment to allow participants to best suit their situation, budget, and available community resources. Examples might include, but not be limited to, composting of food scraps, use of creative entree names and careful relative placement of food choices to reduce waste of fruit and vegetables, donation of unused food to local food banks or shelters, etc. In addition to operationally related activities, schools may also choose to integrate food waste prevention and reduction into curricula, helping students learn about food security and hunger, composting, the circular economy, and stewardship. Resources and guidance will be available on the project web site and from ISTC technical assistance staff for each recommended activity, and participants will earn points for every activity they complete. Relative progress will be displayed on an online leaderboard. On Earth Day 2016, the participating public K-12 school with the most points will be declared the winner for the year and will receive public recognition and a prize (to be determined) to foster continuous improvement.

A kickoff workshop will be held in September 2015 (date and location to be announced) to introduce the Challenge; identify (in part through feedback from school and district representatives in attendance) key sources of food waste in schools, as well as barriers to its prevention; to raise awareness among potential participants of existing relevant toolkits and programs; and to provide comprehensive training on analysis and modification of menus, food procurement and inventory, lunchroom procedures, etc. Note that a school does not need to participate in the workshop to participate in the Challenge, and schools may register throughout the Challenge period (Sept. 1, 2015- April 1, 2016). While the competition is only open to K-12 schools in Illinois, ISTC hopes that other states and organizations beyond schools will be able to use resources developed for the Challenge to guide food waste reduction and prevention in their operations and regions.

Interested parties may contact Joy Scrogum with questions or to request addition to the mailing list for more information on the workshop and activities as it becomes available. The project web site will be available soon, and potential participants will be able to sign up to receive further information there as well. (The URL for the program web site will be posted in the comments of this post as soon as it is live.)

cafeteria tray
Photo by Tim Lauer, principal of Meriwether Lewis Elementary School in Portland, Oregon

This post was originally published on the ISTC Blog, July 7, 2015.

Climate Solutions University Now Accepting Applications for 2016

Climate Solutions University has helped more than 30 communities create adaptation plans that are ready for implementation. Your region is a good fit for the program if you need to tackle the following challenges:

  • Social equity and the impact of climate change on vulnerable citizens
  • A regional approach to planning that integrates urban and rural linkages
  • Threats to watersheds, forest, and economic resources using an ecosystem services model

Who should apply to Climate Solutions University?

  • Community leaders of local government agencies
  • Watershed organizations and resource conservation districts
  • Nonprofits
  • Civic organizations

Participants foster positive, sustainable connections between people, economic, and ecosystem health! This is done through market solutions based in solid research. Visit Climate Solutions University or contact Recruitment Coordinator Josh Dye via email or at 612-481-8059 to get started.

University of Washington offers online certificate in green chemistry & chemical stewardship

Attend an informational webinar on June 22 from 7:30-9:00 pm CDT.
More information

During this 9 month online certificate program, you will learn the fundamental principles of green chemistry and evaluate frameworks for incorporating chemical toxicity and human health considerations into product design, material selections, and supply chain decision-making.

Explore the principles of green chemistry, an innovative approach for designing safer and more sustainable commercial products and industrial processes. Businesses are facing increasing market and regulatory pressures to use less toxic chemicals in their manufacturing processes and products, and there is a need to develop new solutions and more sustainable substitutes. Learn how to incorporate the principles of green chemistry into product design, material selections, and supply chain decision-making. Examine the connection between chemical toxicity and human health, and assess how these factors influence material and product decision making. Develop a new framework for reducing chemical risks and unintended adverse consequences. Incorporate best practices into your business
model that leads to a safer and sustainable approach for the design, use and
selection of chemicals.

Webinar: Corporate Sustainability and TRI: Exploring P2 Information for Facilities and Parent Companies

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 1:00-2:00 p.m. CST
Register: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/ register/312174544

Do you know which companies are taking steps to reduce their environmental footprint in the U.S.?

For the past two years, TRI’s Pollution Prevention (P2) Tool has been an excellent resource for learning what industrial facilities are doing to reduce toxic chemical pollution. Now, all the facility-level P2 and waste management data reported to EPA’s TRI Program is also available at the parent company level.

Join this webinar to:

  • learn how the TRI P2 Tool can help you identify P2 successes and visually compare environmental performance at both the facility and corporate level
  • find out how to compare toxic chemical management and greenhouse gas emissions data at the corporate level
  • see what companies are doing to prevent the release of pollutants to the environment
  • get a live demonstration of the newly expanded TRI P2 Tool
  • see the latest industry- and chemical-level P2 trends featured in the 2013 TRI National Analysis report

MnTAP hosts industrial paint webinar series

This webinar series consists of short presentations on both large and small changes you can make to improve your painting processes – presented by painting industry practitioners and suppliers with first-hand experience to share. This is a chance to ask questions about how the changes worked, what was required, and how it might apply to your facility. Voluntary changes now that reduce VOC emissions could help Minnesota avoid ground level ozone regulations that are on the horizon.

Register for all three webinars at http://mntap.umn.edu/Webinar/index.html.

Session 1: January 21, 2015, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Transfer Efficiency – Equipment and procedures to put more of your paint on the product

  • Superior Industries: Toby Weigman will discuss savings from implementation of plural component mixing and electrostatic spray equipment
  • Donaldson Inc.: Mark Walsworth will discuss the Impact of electrostatic spray equipment and high solids paint at their California plant
  • Graco: Michelle Striggow will discuss the range of transfer efficiency options including air spray improvements, electrostatics, and plural component mixing

Session 2: February 4, 2015, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Paint Formulation Modifications – Improvements in paints that are better for the environment

  • Nordicware: Bette Danielson will discuss paint solvent selection to reduce TRI reporting
  • Graco: Eric Lilyblad will discuss paint reformulation to reduce HAPs and TRI reporting
  • Supplier TBD: Speaker will discuss the range of reformulation options and how to work with your paint supplier to modify or reformulate

Session 3: February 18, 2015, 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.
Powder Coating Considerations – Will it work for you; Can you make the system more efficient?

  • Lou Rich: Speaker will discuss why their company implemented powder coating and the benefits of the system
  • Valley Craft: Tom Balow will discuss why they are expanding their powder coating capacity
  • Powder Coating Institute: Nick Liberto will provide an introduction to powder and how to make powder coating systems efficient.

University of Washington Offers Online Green Chemistry Certificate Program

This post, written by Joy Scrogum, originally appeared on the ISTC Blog.

A new certificate program from the University of Washington will help chemists, environmental and sustainability professionals, health and safety professionals and product managers make informed product decisions that take into account sustainability, toxicity and human health concerns. The certificate in Green Chemistry & Chemical Stewardship will be offered through the Professional and Continuing Education program at the University of Washington.

There will be three online courses in the certificate, and individuals can sign up for a single course on a space available basis:

The online certificate program is intended to give professionals working in chemicals management experience using comparative chemical hazard assessment tools for product selection. The classes will be offered sequentially, beginning in January, 2015, and concluding in August, 2015. Students will complete a capstone project requiring them to evaluate a chemical or product within a sustainability framework.

Thanks to our P2Rx colleague, Donna Walden, of the Western Sustainability and Pollution Prevention Network (WSPPN) for sharing information about this training opportunity.