NEWS FROM THE DELAWARE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL
Sept. 15, 2009
Vol. 39, No. 375
For more information contact Rob Underwood, Division of Air and Waste Management, 302-739-9403; or Melanie Rapp, Public Affairs, 302-739-9902.
National Pollution Prevention Week Sept. 21 – 27
encourages efforts to protect the environment
DOVER, Del. –During National Pollution Prevention Week, Sept. 21 – 27, the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control is encouraging all Delawareans to join the growing movement of people who have adopted pollution prevention practices in their daily lives.
According to Alex Hense of DNREC’s Pollution Prevention Program, this year’s theme is inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s words– Be the change you want to see in the world. “National Pollution Prevention Week is the perfect time to actively prevent pollution at home, work and school by starting activities that will reduce, reuse and recycle waste,” said Hense. “Everyone can make a difference by committing to efforts that protect our environment.”
Many pollution prevention practices are simple and easy to do – use reusable plates and utensils, replace inefficient incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, carpool when possible and use reusable grocery totes instead of paper or plastic ones – to name a few. DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov/P2 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.
In recent years, Delaware has experienced a growing number of people and organizations committed to activities that cleanup and protect the environment. More than 2,000 people have volunteered to participate in Delaware’s annual Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 19 – the largest environmental cleanup initiative in Delaware. In 2008, dedicated volunteers from civic organizations, youth groups, businesses and families collected more than 20,000 pounds of trash from the state’s 97-mile coastline that included river and ocean shorelines, wetland and watershed areas.
To learn more about the many P2 programs available for business, industry and the public, visit DNREC’s website, www.dnrec.delaware.gov.
