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The Chesapeake Bay Program and the Maryland Department of the Environment are seeking applicants for Businesses for the Bay Excellence Awards. Awards are granted to small, medium, and large organizations of all types that voluntarily implement pollution prevention projects. The deadline for applications is July 16, 2007. Awards will be presented at the Businesses for the Bay annual meeting this fall.
Pollution Prevention, also known as P2, is the practice of reducing or eliminating waste at the source, rather than through control or treatment technology later in the process. Any Maryland business, facility or organization that has reduced its air emissions, water discharges, waste streams, or energy and water use is encouraged to apply for an award. Last year’s award winners included:
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Volvo Powertrain, Hagerstown, Md., recognized for revamping an aging factory to a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that reduced energy consumption per engine built by 50 percent.
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Alliant Techsystems, Elkton, Md., recognized for saving thousands of dollars in electric and gasoline usage, and for their successful strategy to gain increased environmental awareness among employees.
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The Brick Companies, Edgewater, Md., recognized for environmentally-aware development and management of their commercial properties, including golf courses and marinas. They have incorporated green-building features, adopted environmental procurement, and promote ride-sharing and renewable energy credit purchases to offset carbon dioxide emissions.
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USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, Md.,recognized for practices and research supporting Chesapeake Bay Program's goals, including the goal that fertilizer used on state and Federal lands be from poultry litter or animal manure sources within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Lynne Forsman of Nautical Destinations, Annapolis, Md.,was named Mentor of the Year for promoting environmentally responsibility boating and for advocating the adoption of green practices in the hospitality community.
Businesses for the Bay is a voluntary program that encourages and recognizes pollution prevention practices at businesses, government facilities, and other organizations located within the Chesapeake Bay watershed. More than 750 organizations throughout the watershed participate. Since the program’s inception in 1996, program members throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed have reported the reduction and recycling of 8.25 billion pounds of waste and materials at a cost savings of $516 million. These wastes ranged from specific chemicals to air emissions and solid waste.
For more information on the awards criteria and to download an application, go to www.b4bay.org or call 1-800-968-7229, ext. 719. Organizations may also join the Businesses for the Bay program online. There is no cost to join.
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