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Newsletter 2004 issue 2 |
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And the Winner Is...
MnTAP, and every one of our clients who have
taken steps to prevent pollution and reduce waste.
MnTAP clients work hard to run their operations
efficiently and in ways that have the least impact on the
environment. Going that extra mile beyond compliance can seem
thankless. MnTAP encourages businesses and organizations to
apply for environmental awards and gain some well-earned recognition
for their work.
Environmental awards can be industry or
media specific, or for environmental improvements in general.
For example, Making Medicine Mercury Free (MMMF) is for health
care; the Industrial Environmental Achievement Award is for
reducing water-related waste; and, the Governor’s Award
for Excellence in Waste and Pollution Prevention is broad
based.
This issue of Source recognizes 17 Minnesota
winners of environmental awards. Overcoming their Minnesota
modesty, these award winners admit that recognition feels
good. Receiving the various awards has helped reinforce the
value of environmental work to management and garner additional
funds for pollution prevention projects. The awards have drawn
positive attention to the winners. Several of the winners
were featured in their internal corporate publications. When
New Ulm Medical Center won the MMMF award, the city’s
daily newspaper The Journal carried a story about the award.
MVP2 award
The MnTAP Intern Program won one of
the 2004 National Pollution Prevention Roundtable’s Most
Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) awards because of its
documented impact on participating businesses and organizations.
Our thanks goes out to over 110 Minnesota
businesses who have participated in MnTAP’s student intern
program. Using the research of their MnTAP interns, the companies
reduced 7 million pounds of waste and 109 million gallons
of water, for first year savings of $4.6 million.
Honorable mention
Reducing solid waste by 6,250 pounds
a year probably won’t win Schult Homes, in Redwood Falls,
an award for its pollution prevention work. Using the research
from a MnTAP intern, the company changed masking and wiring
techniques used in building manufactured homes to save between
$2,000 to $3,000 annually, depending on production levels.
Smaller, single pollution prevention activities generally
don’t stand out. But, MnTAP considers all of our clients
winners who are trying to use pollution prevention strategies
to become more efficient.
Find environmental
award information on MnTAP’s Web site.
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