KANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & ENVIRONMENT
BILL GRAVES, GOVERNOR
Gary R. Mitchell, Secretary
Embargoed for release on:
Contact: Mike Heideman
KDHE Presents Pollution Prevention Awards for Excellence
The 1998 Pollution Prevention Awards for Excellence winners have been announced by the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Awards were presented at the1998 annual environmental conference, "Today's Challenge - Tomorrow's Environment," on Tuesday,
Sept. 29. at the Holidome in Salina.
"The award winners have demonstrated a sincere commitment to reducing pollution and waste," said Secretary of Health and Environment Gary R. Mitchell. "We are pleased to see businesses and individuals moving pro-actively to enhance the quality of life in their communities."
The 1998 winners include the Thomas County Conservation District, Hamm Companies and City of Lawrence, City of Overland Park, Precision Dynamics Midwest, and the Case Corporation.
Thomas County
The Thomas County Conservation District's "Citizens for Recycling" project was presented with an award in the Cooperative Efforts category. The project was developed out of concern of losing the local sanitary landfill. Local businesses teamed with the group to assist with a collection point for recycled materials. The group has held 14 collections diverting about 34 tons of materials from the landfill. "Citizens for Recycling" continues to work to make this a permanent solid waste disposal option.
Hamm Companies and Lawrence
Another winner in the Cooperative Efforts category was Hamm Companies and the City of Lawrence "Community Education Partnership for Safe Disposal of Household Batteries and other Hazardous Household Wastes." Hamm Companies, Inc., a regional landfill in northeastern Kansas, partnered with the City of Lawrence Waste Reduction and Recycling Division to enable Lawrence and Douglas County residents to easily and properly dispose of household batteries.
"Battery Bags" were distributed through nonprofit organizations, schools, and private businesses. The WR/R Division researched and wrote a companion Fact Sheet, "Household Batteries: A Proper Disposal Guide." The project resulted in a 45 percent increase in participation in the Lawrence Household Hazardous Waste Collection Program from 1996 to 1997 and the recycling of 733 pounds of household non-lead batteries in its first year of operation.
City of Overland Park
The City of Overland Park has received an award in the Education and Communication category for their project, "Efficiency and Economy: Two Sides of a Coin." Since the mid-1990s Overland Park has worked to reduce waste produced by city operations. The steps taken by the city are being modeled as examples to encourage residential and commercial groups to reduce their waste.
Several components, including energy efficiency in public buildings, solid waste reductions, purchasing procedures, and extensive community outreach are used in the project. The city provides information about mowing lawns, recycling, stream cleaning and many other topics.
Precision Dynamics Midwest
Precision Dynamics Midwest was presented an award for in the New Initiative category for their project, "Saving Our Landfill." The company manufactures plastic identification bracelets, protective bed covers, and other items for the medical industry, in Belleville. Ten years ago, they began a campaign to eliminate solid waste from manufacturing operations in response to rapid filling at the area landfill.
The company recycles scrap vinyl, aluminum cans, cardboard, and used oil; and reuses scrap foam and terry cloth. They have recently replaced a hazardous solvent cleaner with a
non-hazardous, biodegradable cleaner and may accept two new screen printing products. Recycled materials generate about $1,300 per month for the company, which has diverted more than 18,700 pounds of material per month from the local landfill.
Case Corporation
The Case Corporation, Wichita, was awarded in the New Initiatives category for their project, "Pollution Prevention Program at Case Corporation, Wichita Plant." The project targets reduction or elimination of hazardous chemicals, air emissions, water usage and waste sludge. Recycling of used oils, waste solvents, cardboard, paper, and wooden pallets is another important component of the plan. Continuing improvements are made through a quarterly review of the plant's pollution prevention program and activities.
In addition to those facilities receiving awards, many Kansans returned the Pollution Prevention Pledge distributed by the department promising to do their part to reduce, reuse, recycle and be aware of environmental issues in their community.
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