PPRC Projects
Current Projects:
Environmental Purchasing
Many organizations, cities, counties, states and the federal government are in the process of developing internal procedures to incorporate EPP criteria into their purchasing decisions. This research takes staff time. PPRC is pleased to be able to assist with the process by offering the EPP Rapid Research Service. EPP Rapid Research Service is provided by PPRC and is funded by an EPA grant. PPRC will provide up to 5 hours of research into the environmental aspects of a specific purchasing question. The web page includes a list of previous questions and responses, as well as instructions about how to ask your own environmental purchasing question.
Contact: Debra Taevs
(office@pprc.org)
pprc.org/research/epp/
By-Product Synergy Northwest Network
Following the industrial ecology program model developed by the U.S.
Business Council for Sustainable Development, PPRC is coordinating a
network of organizations that will work together over the course of a
year, beginning in Fall 2007 to identify new market opportunities,
find lower cost local feed stocks and reduce costs and risk associated
with wastes. The motto is "turn waste into profit"!
Contact: Debra Taevs
(dtaevs@pprc.org)
pprc.org/synergy/
Past Projects:
Northwest Fluorescent Lamp Recycling Project
PPRC is leading an effort to educate hospitals, lighting contractors and commercial property managers about proper disposal of spent fluorescent lamps. We will also be working with large industrial suppliers to identify ways to have them provide information to customers and help facilitate the proper disposal of lamps.
Contact: Christine Guiao
(cguiao@pprc.org)
National Park Service Green Procurement Project
Provide consult to the NPS' Environmental Management Program on incorporating and implementing more comprehensive environmental procurement practices service-wide. The project also included development of an Environmental Procurement Handbook applicable to all NPS parks and regional offices.
Contact: Eun-Sook Goidel
(esgoidel@pprc.org)
P2 Marketing Brochure
PPRC developed a P2 marketing brochure, targeted to businesses, to help increase awareness of the benefits of pollution prevention and increase use of PPRC's services. The brochure is complete, and now available online. It discusses P2's contributions to worker safety, cutting costs, business competitiveness, and the bottom line.
Contact: Crispin Stutzman
(cstutzman@pprc.org)
www.pprc.org/pubs/p2pays.pdf
Paper Forum
Many public sector organizations are working to lower the life cycle
impacts of their office (copier and printer) paper consumption.
Strategies they are using include: 1) reducing paper use, 2) purchasing
environmentally preferable (EP) paper, and 3) optimizing reuse and
recycling of copier paper.
More organizations might wish to buy EP paper but can not do so because
of its higher price. By leveraging their buying power, organizations could
potentially increase the availability and lower the price of EP paper.
If you are a public sector purchaser or end-user of copier paper, or are
involved with the supply of EP paper, join us at the Paper Forum to
discuss how best to stimulate the market for high post-consumer,
processed chlorine-free copier paper in the Northwest.
Contact: Crispin Stutzman
(cstutzman@pprc.org)
www.pprc.org
Priority Chemicals and Supply Chain Management
PPRC has long posited that working to influence Original Equipment Manufacturer's (OEM) supply chains is a very strategic opportunity to advance P2 throughout industry. PPRC's work started with the development of an on-line resource, Supply Chain Management for Environmental Improvement:
Greening the Supply Chain,(www.pprc.org/pubs/grnchain) and has moved into developing tools for OEMs to act as a technical assistance provider for their suppliers and vendors.
PPRC also realizes a need to address priority chemicals determined by states and federal authorities.
PPRC will try to merge activities for reducing and/or eliminating priority chemicals identified in EPA's National Waste Minimization Plan and the northwest states's chemical action committees with OEMs promotion of chemical reduction/elimination through their supplier network.
Through this project, PPRC will identify priority chemicals (targeted by federal, state and local agencies) that are currently being used in product manufacturing or food production. Once we have identified a core set of priority chemicals or substances then we will: 1) Compile a list of products that use the priority chemicals and a subsequent list of alternatives; 2) Document the primary northwest-based OEMs and affected suppliers; and 3) Determine if, how, and what Greening Supply Chain strategies (bans, reformulation, mentoring, technical assistance) can be strategic for OEMs to promote the elimination or reduction of the chemicals/substances throughout their supply chains.
PPRC also will select one priority chemical and one product category where this chemical is persistent and develop an action plan for OEMs to interact with their customer/supplier network to eliminate or reduce the use of the chemical or substance. For example, fire retardants in furniture.
Overall, government agency technical assistance providers will benefit from this research as they will have a tool to help them prioritize sector outreach, understand how to communicate environmental performance throughout a supply chain and have alternative products and technologies to suggest to eliminate or reduce priority chemicals.
Contact: Michelle Gaither
(mgaither@pprc.org)
Spray Painting Efficiency Training
The Iowa Waste Reduction Center (IWRC) developed the Spray Technique Analysis and Research (STAR®) program. The STAR® program is dedicated to improving the overall efficiency of manual spray coating operations by enhancing the techniques of spray technicians around the country.
Ken Grimm, PPRC's Industry Outreach Lead, has completed the Iowa Waste Reduction Center's Train-the-Trainer course in addition to his nearly 20 years of industrial and automotive paint experience. Ken is promoting and providing STAR training to technical and community colleges as well as commercial autobody shops. Current colleges training students using the STAR techniques include Renton Technical College, South Seattle Community College and Spokane Community College.
If your business or technical training program wants to have this educational opportunity provided to you, please contact the Project Manager below.
Contact: Ken Grimm
(kgrimm@pprc.org)
Conductivity Controls in Water Use Applications
Prepared a technology profile on point-of-use water monitoring for rinse tanks, boilers and cooling towers, that yield data useful for improving water use efficiency and reducing water related wastes.
Contact: Michelle Gaither
(mgaither@pprc.org)
Product Stewardship Topic Hub and factsheet
PPRC will develop a Product Stewardship Topic Hub to support the work of P2 Technical Assistance Providers, offering them useful tools and techniques that will help them guide the businesses with whom they work. PPRC will also develop a brief factsheet targeted towards manufacturers.
Contact: Christine Guiao
(cguiao@pprc.org)
Recycled Paint Marketing for the Northwest
Evaluation of supplies and markets for reprocessed, recycled content paint in the Northwest/Puget Sound Region, and development of action items and strategies to establish a viable market for producers and buyers.
Contact: Michelle Gaither
(mgaither@pprc.org)
Washington Lean and Environment Project
The Washington Department of Ecology and the state's MEP, Washington Manufacturing Services, partnered under a grant from the US EPA, to jointly deliver lean and environmental assistance to three Washington State manufacturers. PPRC and Ross & Associates Environmental Consulting are providing strategic support and project documentation.
Contact: Michelle Gaither
(mgaither@pprc.org)
Unwanted Medications: A Safe/Secure Return Program
This pilot project provides a convenient, secure and environmentally responsible collection and disposal option for expired/unwanted household pharmaceuticals: over-the-counter, prescription and (at a future date) controlled medications. No such mechanism currently exists in the state. An estimated 100 pilot collection locations in Washington State retail pharmacies (Bartell's), clinical pharmacies (Group Health Cooperative) and nursing homes will collect a minimum of 1,800 kg (4,100 lbs) of material in one year. The pilot program is undertaken by a coalition of governmental entities and non-profits operating as the PH:ARM Project (Pharmaceuticals from Households: A Return Mechanism).
The objectives of this project are:
** Reduce potentially damaging environmental and health impacts of current disposal practices;
** Avoid accidental poisonings and illegal diversion;
** Demonstrate the potential for an on-going program by documenting patient need, program feasibility and patient satisfaction; and
** Demonstrate a product stewardship model involving retailers and (eventually) manufacturers, serving as a model for the state and the rest of the country.
Contact: Cathy Buller
(cbuller@pprc.org)
www.productstewardship.net/productsPharmaceuticals.html
Washington State Solar Mortgage
In 2005, Washington State's government passed new incentives to encourage installation of renewable energy equipment. In conjunction with federal incentives and rising energy costs, the payback period for renewable energy systems is shorter than ever.
This project will explore the feasibility of allowing a homebuyer to add the cost of installing solar equipment into a home mortgage.
Contact: Crispin Stutzman
(cstutzman@pprc.org)
2007 Western P2 Conference
The Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) and the Western Regional Pollution Prevention Network (WRPPN) are working together to organize the 2007 Western U.S. Pollution Prevention Conference.
This unique, collaborative effort between Regions 9 and 10 will be held on October 23-25, 2007 at the Bahia Hotel in San Diego, California. This conference will highlight the traditions of both Region 9 and Region 10's roundtables: timely, practical information that the P2 technical assistance provider can use immediately, as well as a strong focus on issues of concern to local governments. The meeting will offer ample networking time and a scenic location. Breakout sessions will be held on historic sternwheeler boats moored by the hotel.
Contact: Christine Guiao
(cguiao@pprc.org)
pprc.org/networking/rrt.cfm
PPRC's Lean and Green Service
The Pollution Prevention Resource Center (PPRC) is promoting improved environmental operations via lean manufacturing activities. PPRC will provide free assistance to lean consultants and in-house lean champions to identify environmental opportunities that are synergistic and complementary to lean.
PPRC will also work towards becoming a networking/referral "hub" for lean and environment for lean service providers and lean experts in the Northwest region.
Contact: Michelle Gaither
(mgaither@pprc.org)
www.pprc.org/solutions/leangreen.cfm
PPRC's "Rapid Response" Service
PPRC conducts free "rapid response" research for government agency technical assistance providers in the Northwest. This PPRC service seeks to answer an environmental question, or at a minimum, find sufficent leads, contacts and resources to help the requestor find the desired information. The service may include consultation with engineers, a host of listserv resources, technical experts, and on-line or library searches. The web page includes a list of previous questions PPRC has answered. (Note: if you are outside of the Pacific Northwest, visit the National P2Rx" Rapid Response page for this service - a link is available from the page listed below.)
Contact: Michelle Gaither
(mgaither@pprc.org)
pprc.org/research/rapidres.cfm
Gotcha! A P2 Quick Recognition Program
PPRC will develop a quick recognition program, tentatively called "Gotcha! Caught in the P2 Act" to immediately recognize P2 accomplishments when they happen. These accomplishments will be marketed to the business's management, the general P2 community and any other media outlet that PPRC determines appropriate.
Contact: Christine Guiao
(cguiao@pprc.org)
News Services (What's New in P2 & RSS Newsfeed)
PPRC monitors news wires and regional sources for information about pollution prevention news and new resources of interest to the technical assistance community. New stories are added virtually every day. These are published on pprc.org, and also are made available as a RSS (Really Simple Syndication) feed, for subscribers. In addition, PPRC publishes this content every month in a free email bulletin called "What's New in P2."
Contact: Chloe Birnel
(cbirnel@pprc.org)
www.pprc.org/news
2007 Northwest P2 Webinar Series
PPRC is hosting a series of 3 webinars in 2007 on the following topics: Measurement Tool Training, Integrating Lean and P2: WDOE's Lean and Environment Project; and Pharmaceuticals Take-back in Washington State. These webinars are designed to inform and educate the Northwest P2 audience of emerging issues in a timely and convenient format. For more information go to: www.pprc.org/2007webinars.cfm
Contact: Christine Guiao
(cguiao@pprc.org)
www.pprc.org/2007webinars.cfm