2018 - 2022 Regional Pollution Prevention Recognition Winners
Learn more about previous EPA Regional Pollution Prevention Recognition winners.
Region 4
EPA Region 4 Pollution Prevention Recognition Recognition winners (serving Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and 6 Tribes)
2021 Awardees
Siemens Energy Inc | Richland, MS
Siemens Energy is a manufacturer of high voltage circuit breakers and voltage regulators for the power transmission industry.
Motivated to reduce energy consumption internally, in 2019 Siemens Energy completed a multi-factor project that improved process efficiency and reduced electricity use. Siemens Energy identified two areas within the climate-controlled facility that were losing conditioned air each time equipment entered or exited the building. The facility replaced the traditional roll up doors with high-speed doors, reducing energy consumption by over 60,000 kWh. The company also identified and implemented opportunities of automation and air flow improvements related to compressed air systems, realizing an energy reduction of over 200,000kWh. The energy reduction project resulted in over 260,000 kWh of annual electricity savings and 239,000 pounds of annual CO2 equivalent avoidance.
Siemens Energy is actively involved in state-led P2 projects through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality as well as employee-led environmental initiatives to promote recycling and waste reduction. Siemens Energy’s participation in the MDEQ enHance program has challenged them to focus on internal practices and product design to reduce waste at the source.
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
Shutterfly, LLC |Fort Mill, SC
The Shutterfly family of brands together make up an online retail and manufacturing platform for photography and personalized products.
In 2021, Shutterfly changed their process and workflow configuration for card production to decrease waste and materials used. All of the Shutterfly manufacturing facilities increased product batch sizes run by the digital printing presses across each manufacturing facility. This improvement helped Shutterfly achieve their sustainability goals for year-over-year waste reduction and reducing costs by eliminating the use of 267,000 sheets of large-format paper. This is roughly the equivalent of 100 trees. Shutterfly plans to expand this process change to a greater number of products in 2022, further reducing waste produced during the printing process. In 2021, Shutterfly also replaced many of their older presses with newer models that reduce energy usage and VOCs emitted. In 2019, the header sheets were redesigned to reduce ink coverage by 60% per sheet, demonstrating that this approach to production is a key part of the business.
Shutterfly’s P2 activities have contributed to a 24% decrease in waste produced, 7% decrease in energy usage, and reduced impact on natural wood resources through saving thousands of B2-size sheets of paper.
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
Ford Motor Company | Louisville, KY Assembly Plant
Ford designs, manufactures, markets and services a full line of connected, increasingly electrified passenger and commercial vehicles.
In 2020, Ford began implementing a pollution prevention project to reuse treated wastewater treatment (WWT) effluent in the paint pretreatment process. The goal was to reduce the volume of water sent to the Publicly Owned Treatment Works (POTW) and reduce the amount of freshwater being used in the manufacturing process. First, the pre-treated WWT effluent is filtered with an ultrafiltration system to further remove suspended solids and total organic carbon. Then, the effluent is further clarified by a reverse osmosis system producing a high quality permeate that is used in the paint pretreatment process.
During the first year of project implementation, the facility reduced over five million gallons of city water, which equates to over 22 gallons/vehicle. This equates to a savings of approximately $50K. The full potential of the system is expected to further increase as production stabilizes from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
Region 7
EPA Region 7 Pollution Prevention Recognition winners (serving Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska)
2022 Awardee
Grandview Cabinetry | Parsons, Kansas
Grandview Cabinetry is a cabinet manufacturer recognized for their solvent and water conservation practices. The company implemented a solvent-recovery system that repurposes the solvent used while finishing cabinets to clean factory equipment. The system is estimated to save 1,000 gallons of solvent; 1,400 gallons of water; 3.3 tons of volatile organic compounds; and over $15,000 per year.
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
Previous Awardees
Region 8
EPA Region 8 Pollution Prevention Recognition winners (serving Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Tribal Lands)
2021 Awardees
Leprino Foods | Fort Morgan, Colorado
Leprino Foods Company, located in Fort Morgan, Colorado, is a dairy ingredients manufacturer that produces mozzarella cheese, milk proteins and lactose.
To reduce its greenhouse gas and water footprint, Leprino Foods installed modern equipment and implemented cleaning system and production process improvements to minimize waste brine and process cleaning water generation. The improvements reduced water, electrical and gas consumption, which, in turn, reduced waste hauling, electrical and gas costs.
The company’s P2 activities at the Fort Morgan plant have contributed to:
Annual Cost Savings: $208,714
Annual GHG Emissions Avoided: 1,463 MTCO2e
Annual Water Conserved: 3,885,312 gallons
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
Management and Engineering Services, LLC | Longmont, Colorado
Management and Engineering Services, LLC, located in Longmont, is a small business providing specialized environmental & business planning support solutions to government agencies & private companies operating on government lands.
Over the past 3 years, Management and Engineering Services implemented water reduction equipment and techniques, installing low-flow devices, a remote-controlled irrigation system with rain and snow sensors, and xeriscape landscaping. They also instituted a composting program for all organic waste, eliminated disposable food service ware and paper towels, purchased 100% renewable energy, donated equipment to a locally owned recycling company, and promoted bike-to-work concept and provided employee bicycles.
Management and Engineering Services P2 activities have contributed to:
GHG Emissions Avoided: 57 MTCO2e
Water Conserved: 24,200 gallons
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
PCs for People | Denver, Colorado
PCs for People provides opportunities for greater Denver’s individuals and families with low income to benefit from the life-changing impacts of computer and internet access. By collecting used technology from local businesses and either refurbishing them for community use or responsible recycling them when they cannot be reused, the organization provides a valuable service to families, businesses, and the planet. PCs for People diverts over a million pounds of electronic waste from Colorado landfills every year and supports digital equity and inclusion for all, no matter their income, ethnicity, or educational background. Now more than ever, access to technology is essential to everyday life, often required for job opportunities, education, healthcare, social connection, and more.
Not only do they prevent hazardous waste from entering the waste stream, but they also reduce the demand for manufacturing new computers, which reduces the environmental impact by preventing hazardous materials use and GHG emissions. PCs for People holds the highest certifications in the recycling industry for data sanitization and responsible recycling practices, which provides a quality service to corporations in need of IT asset disposition services.
In the last three years, PCs for People Colorado has refurbished over 24,814 computers and responsibly recycled 2+ million pounds of electronics, providing second life to these devices that may have otherwise ended up in a landfill.
PCs for People’s P2 work has contributed to:
GHG Emissions Avoided Through Refurbishment: 4,686 MTCO2e/Year
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.
Taco Star | Longmont, Colorado
Taco Star is a family Mexican restaurant located in Longmont, Colorado.
By working with Longmont’s Sustainable Business Program, Efficiency Works, and Boulder County Partners for a Clean Environment (PACE), Taco Star was able to update older compact fluorescent interior and exterior lighting, add new LED fixtures, change less efficient hand sink aerators to low-flow aerators, and replace 20-year-old refrigeration equipment with new ENERGY STAR® units.
Through this effort Taco Star’s P2 activities have contributed to:
Annual Cost Savings: $4,695
Annual GHG Emissions Avoided: 32 MTCO2e
Annual Water Conserved: 13,000 gallons
Learn more about this awardee's P2 projects in the EPA news release.