NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Sept. 8, 2008
Vol. 38, No. 410
For more information contact Alex Hense, Pollution Prevention (P2) Program, 302-739-9909, or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
National Pollution Prevention Week Sept. 15-21 Encourages Sustainable Practices
Green Lodging, Clean Marina and Coastal Cleanup Among Week’s Activities
DOVER, Del. – Pollution Prevention…Where Sustainable Practices Begin is the theme of this year’s National Pollution Prevention Week Sept. 15-21, and DNREC’s Pollution Prevention Program, or P2, encourages all Delawareans to join the growing movement of people who have adopted pollution prevention practices in their daily lives.
“It’s so much easier and more cost effective to prevent pollution in the first place, than to clean it up afterwards,” said Crystal Nagyiski, DNREC’s P2 program manager. “National Pollution Prevention Week is the perfect time to actively seek to prevent pollution at home, work and school by starting activities that will reduce, reuse and recycle waste.”
Pollution prevention practices are often simple and easy to do – carpool whenever possible, replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent ones, and use reusable cups for coffee and other beverages – to name just a few. DNREC’s P2 web site includes a list of the many ways to prevent pollution at the source before it is generated.
National Pollution Prevention Week originated in California in 1992 and in 1995 gained widespread popularity when it became a national effort. The week is an opportunity for individuals, businesses and government to highlight pollution prevention and sustainability activities and achievements, expand current pollution prevention and commit to new actions.
National Pollution Prevention Week is being celebrated in Delaware by events that recognize outstanding and innovative pollution prevention programs and activities. This year’s events highlight programs adopted by hotels and marinas and include an oil spill response training for boaters and marina staff. In addition, the largest statewide cleanup effort by citizens, organizations and businesses – the Delaware Coastal Cleanup – with more than 1,800 volunteers, will be held.
On Sept. 15 the Delaware Green Lodging Program will honor a New Castle hotel for promoting and offering sustainable pollution prevention practices, such as recycling and water conservation, that can also meet customer demand and improve a hotel’s bottom line. The Delaware Clean Marina certification event on Sept. 17 will acknowledge three marinas for implementing pollution prevention measures that ultimately improve water quality, reduce costs associated with waste disposal and generate new sources of revenue. Immediately after the Clean Marina event, DNREC’s emergency responders will join P2 staff for marine spill response training that will help boaters and marina operators recognize and react to oil and waste spills on our waterways.
Delawareans from all walks of life will join in the 23rd annual Delaware Coastal Cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 20, part of the world’s largest annual clearing of coastlines and lakes by volunteers. The cleanup spans the state’s 97-mile coastline from north of Wilmington to Fenwick Island and includes 45 sites targeted for cleanup. Volunteers will help identify the source of debris, so future efforts can focus on eliminating or reducing pollution. Last year volunteers collected more than 12,000 pounds of trash during this one-day event.
To learn more about the many P2 programs available for business, industry and the public, visit DNREC’s Pollution Prevention web site, http://www.dnrec.delaware.gov/p2 .
