BALTIMORE, MD (September 21, 2010) – The Maryland Green Registry has won a national award for preventing pollution by helping businesses and other organizations adopt environmentally sustainable practices.
The Registry, a Maryland Smart, Green & Growing program, received a Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) award. The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable presented the award today at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. Governor Martin O’Malley created Smart, Green & Growing in 2008 to foster a smarter, greener, more sustainable future for Maryland families. The Initiative brings together state agencies, local governments, businesses and citizens to revitalize communities, improve transit, create green jobs, address climate change, conserve energy, preserve land, and restore the Chesapeake Bay.
The Roundtable’s awards recognize outstanding and innovative pollution prevention projects and programs that demonstrate measurable results and optimization of available project resources. They are presented to help mark National Pollution Prevention Week, which is September 20 to 26.
“The Maryland Green Registry owes its success to businesses that are adopting efficient, environmentally sound practices that benefit the bottom line,” said Laura Armstrong, coordinator of the Maryland Green Registry. “The annual cumulative results demonstrate the clear economic and environmental benefits of adopting even simple measures to improve efficiency and use resources wisely.”
The Maryland Green Registry was honored in the project/program category. The program promotes pollution prevention through waste reduction, energy and water conservation, transportation efficiency, and other best practices. It facilitates the adoption of these practices by providing information on pollution prevention resources, including free on-site technical assistance, and by allowing organizations to share their effective environmental practices with one another. The success stories bring recognition to member organizations and inspire others to take similar steps.
In June, on the first anniversary of the program, Maryland Green Registry members reported the following annual results: 1.6 million pounds of hazardous waste reduced; 4.7 million pounds of non-hazardous solid waste reduced; 2 billion pounds of non-hazardous solid waste recycled; 2.8 million gallons of wastewater reduced; 3.8 million gallons of fuel conserved; 1.6 million miles vehicle miles traveled reduced; 3.6 million MW electricity reduced; 53 million gallons of water conserved; 1.5 million metric tons carbon equivalent greenhouse gas emissions reduced (including 420 million pounds of carbon dioxide reductions); and $24 million saved. The program currently has 225 members.
In 2010, the first Maryland Green Registry Leadership Awards were presented to organizations that have shown a strong commitment to sustainable practices, measurable results, and continuous improvement. British American Auto Care, Inc., GM Baltimore Transmission, NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center, St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and the Union Hospital of Cecil County received the awards.
To become a member, Maryland organizations are encouraged to visit the Maryland Green Registry website at
mde.maryland.gov/marylandgreen/Pages/Home.aspx and complete a best practices profile. The registry includes checklists for best practices in the areas of: environmental management and leadership; waste reduction; energy and water conservation; transportation; and green building design. The checklists offer examples of activities to be included in the organization’s profile, as well as inspiration and ideas for future efforts.
Participating organizations may display the official Maryland Green Registry logo and share their profiles on-line to provide details of their environmental commitment.
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