County Reminds Employees And Employers To REduce Waste During National Pollution Prevention Week

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Contact: Esther Bowring, 240-777-6530
Ligia Roviralta Moss, 240-777-7700
Ellen Scavia, 240-777-7770

For Immediate Release: September 19, 2000

COUNTY REMINDS EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS TO
REDUCE WASTE DURING NATIONAL
POLLUTION PREVENTION WEEK

To celebrate national Pollution Prevention Week, September 18-22, Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection officials are urging employees and employers to consider ways of reducing waste to protect the environment, and possibly reduce costs.

"The County's Pollution Prevention Policy, adopted last year, calls for eliminating or significantly reducing pollution at the source and ensuring that it never enters the environment," said County Executive Douglas M. Duncan. "It is through our day-to-day efforts that we will protect our environment, preserve it for future generations, and enhance the quality of life for all our residents."

Pollution prevention can reduce regulatory burdens and liability, improve the health and safety of employees, protect the environment, reduce waste disposal and cleanup costs, reduce operating costs, and enhance employee involvement in innovations.

To prevent waste in the workplace, employers can:

Institute preferred purchasing for environmentally sound products;

Reward employees who prevent pollution;

Find alternatives for hazardous products or identify new ways to do things that completely eliminate the need for hazardous materials; and

Plan for pollution prevention when undertaking new projects.

"We hope all employers will accept the responsibility of maintaining and improving the environment, and ask their employees to meet their highest expectations," said James Caldwell, Director of the County's Department of Environmental Protection.

"We recommend that senior management and staff with operational responsibilities work as a team to develop and implement more efficient and cost-effective practices."

Employees at work can prevent waste when they:

Use a washable mug;

Circulate original documents and use bulletin boards instead of making multiple copies - or use email;

Make double-sided copies;

Recycle and use recycled products; and

Reuse printer toner cartridges.

Last year, Duncan issued a Pollution Prevention Executive Order that designated a Pollution Prevention Coordinator, who has spearheaded development and implementation of a Pollution Prevention Plan for the County and established a training program that uses international guidelines as a benchmark for pollution prevention concepts.

For more information about the Pollution Prevention, call Ligia Roviralta Moss at 240-777-7720.

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