  |
|
|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 1996
96-167
CONTACT:
Hugh O'Neill (360) 407-6354
Renee Guillierie (360) 407-6239
School Gets Help Through Company's Penalty
Olympia, WA -- The Lower Columbia Community College in Longview will get free, expert help December 20 to dispose of about 2,500 gallons of hazardous wastes. The help comes from Philip Environmental, formerly Burlington Environmental, a recycling and hazardous waste disposal company in Renton. The college and the company were brought together by the Washington Department of Ecology through the agency's innovative penalty settlement program.
"Innovative settlements are above and beyond fixing the problems that led to a penalty," said Megan White, manager of Ecology's hazardous waste programs. "They are a way for companies to use their penalty payments to help communities and the environment, and give their expertise to help others solve environmental problems."
Philip agreed to help the college and others dispose of hazardous wastes as part of an innovative penalty settlement with Ecology. Ecology chose the college for help disposing of their laboratory wastes after agency staff conducted a free environmental audit at the school in May.
The audit turned up about 3,000 bottles of old and unusable chemicals in the chemistry laboratory. The chemicals included many acids and bases and a small amount of radioactive chemicals. Most of the materials have been packaged into forty-four 55-gallon drums for pickup. Ecology staff are overseeing the proper disposal of the chemicals.
"Being able to safely dispose of these wastes at no cost is a great help to us," said Jill Harbinson, health and safety coordinator at the college.
The audit was part of the "School Sweeps" program, a joint effort between Ecology and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program in King County. Each of the state's 32 vocational and technical colleges received a technical assistance visit from these agencies. Staff helped vocational instructors identify and solve any environmental concerns at the schools. The program also provided information on environmental management and pollution prevention for instructors to include in their classroom curriculum.
"The School Sweeps program has provided waste control information students can take with them into their careers." said Harbinson. "The disposal services mean safer classrooms and storage areas for students and staff."
Philip will collect the waste, transport it and dispose of it. The value of these services is $23,000. The company has also provided $45,000 worth of free services by disposing of household hazardous wastes in San Juan, Pacific and Wahkiakum counties.
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
