The U.S. EPA announced winners of the 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention Recognition Awards. EPA Regions 4, 5, 8, 9 and 10 are recognizing 17 businesses that have demonstrated leadership in innovative pollution prevention practices which reduce, eliminate, or prevent pollution at its source prior to recycling, treatment, or disposal.
The United States produces billions of pounds of pollution each year and spends billions of dollars per year controlling it. Preventing pollution at the source rather than managing waste afterwards is an important way to support American businesses while reducing exposure to toxic chemicals in communities and conserving natural resources. These practices are essential for protecting health, improving environmental conditions–including in and around disadvantaged communities–and preserving natural resources like wetlands, groundwater sources, and other critical ecosystems.
This year’s winners represent a broad range of companies, from large corporations to small businesses. These companies stand out for their work preventing pollution by having reduced their use of water or energy, substituted high-risk chemicals with safer alternatives and cut their creation of hazardous waste. For example:
- The Nestle Purina Petcare facility in Hartwell, Ga. is being recognized for implementing P2 practices that reduced water use by more than 66 million gallons and saved over $750,000 in energy costs over the course of a year.
- Avantor Solon Manufacturing Center, Solon, Ohio improved their lighting and HVAC systems to make them more efficient, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 15%.
- Revvity Inc. in Layfette, Colo. made improvements to their process for filtering and purifying materials used in manufacturing which reduced solvent waste by 69.8% and solid hazardous waste by 100%.
As award recipients, each of these businesses is now able to demonstrate that pollution prevention is both environmentally sound and cost effective and serve as examples for other organizations interested in saving money by implementing pollution prevention practices.
This year’s winners of the 2024 Regional Pollution Prevention Recognition Awards are:
- Alibi Ale Works; Incline Village, Nev. (Region 9)
- Avantor Solon Manufacturing Center, Solon, Ohio (Region 5)
- Breckenridge Grand Vacations; Breckenridge, Colo. (Region 8)
- Bridger Bowl Ski Area; Bozeman, Mont. (Region 8)
- Carson City Toyota; Carson City, Nev. (Region 9)
- Evonik Corporation, Mobile Facility; Theodore, Ala. (Region 4)
- GEOTEK; Stewartville, Minn. (Region 5)
- La Nova Beauty; Reno, Nev. (Region 9)
- Micron Technology, Inc; Boise, Idaho (Region 10)
- Nestle Purina Petcare, Hartwell Factory; Hartwell, Ga. (Region 4)
- The Pad; Henderson, Nev. (Region 9)
- PAS Technologies; Phoenix, Ariz. (Region 9)
- Revvity Inc.; Layfette, Colo (Region 8)
- Salem Boys Auto; Tempe, Ariz. (Region 9)
- Vallourec Star, LP; Youngstown, Ohio (Region 5)
- Western Digital Technologies; Fremont, Calif. (Region 9)
- Zero Waste San Diego; San Diego, Calif. (Region 9)