Following the industrial ecology program model developed by the U.S. Business Council for Sustainable Development, PPRC, in conjunction with NBIS, is coordinating a network of organizations working together to identify opportunies to exchange waste products. A waste or by-product of one company can be used by another company as a lower cost, locally available feedstock. This creative process some... (more)

For more information contact: Debra Taevs
or check out: pprc.org/synergy/

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PPRC NEWS

Diesel Emissions Reduction Act Grant

With a goal to eliminate almost 200,000 tons of harmful diesel emissions and improve the air quality in the Pacific Northwest, we’re excited to announce our partnership with Tacoma-based trucking fleet Interstate Distributor Co. and Seattle’s Freight Wing Inc., a manufacturer of aerodynamic side “skirts” for tractor trailers.

Using an $875,000 Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grant from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), this new partnership will enable Interstate to implement one of the trucking industry's largest installations of aerodynamic trailer side skirts to date – using an innovative new product engineered by Freight Wing Inc. Interstate selected the Freight Wing “Aeroflex” product after a rigorous testing program that evaluated several emerging efficiency technologies verified by the EPA “Smartway” Transport initiative.

For this project, we predict up to a seven percent reduction of diesel fuel consumption and emissions for over 2,000 trailers in the Interstate fleet, resulting in estimated annual savings of 1.1 million gallons of diesel. Over the product life-span, this will result a total savings of approximately 16 million gallons of fuel, $45 million, and prevent 182,633 tons of greenhouse gas emissions, significantly improving the air quality in Puget Sound communities by minimizing the toxins found in diesel emissions that are associated with cancer, asthma, and other pulmonary and cardiovascular health issues.

Check out our DERA project page for the latest updates, numbers and other media about this exciting opportunity we have to improve the air quality in Puget Sound, the Pacific Northwest, and across the country.

Read the press release here.

NEWS ARCHIVE

FEATURED EVENTS

• SEPTEMBER 14 - Ecobiz Certification Workshop | Beaverton, OR

Partners for a Sustainable Washington County Community invites you to a FREE workshop about EcoBiz certification for automotive and fleet maintenance operations and to hear from certified shop managers about their most innovative “green” fleet ideas. Certified businesses, including many public fleets, benefit by receiving technical assistance, marketing and advertising, all free, and by being acknowledged as leaders in their industry. Read the details here.

• SEPTEMBER 21 - Resourceful Use Event | Portland, OR

What if... Your Waste Stream became part of your Revenue Stream? Find out how at this facilitated meeting on the benefits of ResourceFull Use, an innovative waste exchange program being developed in the Portland Metro region. You can reduce waste, save money, increase resource efficiencies, and decrease emissions and pollution. Meet other manufacturers whose outputs may become your inputs. Learn how the sharing of resources can increase your bottom line.

It’s a free event, but we request you RSVP to mking@columbiacorridor.org or 503.287.8686.

• OCTOBER 5-6 - 2010 Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention(P2) Regional Roundtable | near Poulsbo, WA

"Emerging Trends in Climate Change and Toxics Reduction: Tools for Business and Industry"

Take advantage of this annual opportunity to:

• Learn and share practical information about climate change and toxics reduction efforts transferable to your own organization, interests, and region.
• Network with peers and with contacts outside your usual "home base."
• Gain perspective on "who's doing what" in and beyond the Pacific Northwest

REGISTER TODAY!!!

Check out the rest of our upcoming events here.

NEW RAPID RESPONSES NOW AVAILABLE

• Alternatives to Dry-Erase Markers -We received a request from a Seattle elementary school asking about alternatives to dry-erase markers. This school was already using "low-odor" markers, but was still concerned about the exposure to the fumes. We looked into the claims from the markers in questions and ran a comparison against some competitors. The results might surprise you. (July 2010)

• Facility Checklist to Identify Environmental Waste - Based upon a request for environmental assessment points to reference during lean events and facility walkthroughs, and the previous work done by the Washington Department of Ecology and Impact Washington, PPRC compiled this comprehensive checklist to assist lean experts with future work at facilities. (May 2010)

Read about our Rapid Response program and the rest of our 2008-2010 requests here.

FEATURED VIDEOS

• By-Product Synergy - Spring 2010 Seattle

By-Product Synergy NW workshop held at City Hall in Seattle on April 13, 2010. Over 60 people from business, government and nonprofits came to together to discuss turning waste into profit. For more info visit www.nbis.org.

• P2 outreach in South Korea:

This video slideshow, created by Scott Butner, documents a delegation of U.S. P2 professionals, including PPRC’s own Ken Grimm, during a trip to South Korea. During their trip the delegation provided P2 training and consulting to Korean manufacturers.