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Department of Ecology News Release - October 5, 2007
07-293
OLYMPIA - Eleven companies and agencies will be honored October 9 for their success in moving Washington towards a more sustainable future. The winners will receive the 2007 Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices in a ceremony at the Capitol in Olympia.
"These winners represent the best of the best at protecting the environment while running profitable businesses," said Jay Manning, Department of Ecology Director. "I never fail to be impressed by the creativity and vision displayed by these award winners. They show that in Washington you can protect the environment and succeed commercially at the same time."
The award winners reduced or even eliminated their use of toxic materials, applied key principles of sustainability, and conserved resources that otherwise would have been consumed.
The 2007 winners:
Ben Franklin Transit, Richland, a public transit agency, pioneered new fuel blends of ethanol and bio-diesel and sponsored forums on sustainability and "liveable communities." www.bft.org/
Biokleen Industries, Vancouver, manufactures non-toxic, concentrated cleaners and participated in setting the national standards for "green" cleaners. www.biokleenhome.com/home
Chambers Creek (Pierce Co.) Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant, University Place, designed and built a facility that makes high quality, readily usable fertilizer from biosolids while eliminating the use of 90 tons of toxic chemicals per year. www.piercecountywa.org/pc/abtus/ourorg/pwu/sewer/wwtp/ccwtp.htm
Lummi Island Wild, Lummi Island, uses the traditional method of reef netting to selectively catch salmon while protecting vulnerable species. They power their net winches with solar panels, a world first for commercial fishers. http://www.lummiislandwild.com/
Materials and Resources Management - Washington State University, Pullman, is leading the country in higher education facilities with their integrated system for buying, using and disposing of materials, and promote the school's participation in testing new products and ideas. www.surplus.wsu.edu/
Mountain Gear, Spokane Valley, sells outdoor clothing and equipment worldwide. The company followed "green building" standards in remodeling its facility and serves as a real-life model for commercial green building. www.mountaingear.com/
SEH America, Vancouver, manufactures silicon wafers using innovative processes that eliminate 270,000 pounds of chromium-contaminated wastewater and the use of 47,000 pounds of isopropyl alcohol per year. www.sehamerica.com/
The Evergreen State College, Olympia, built the first public higher education building in Washington to be certified Gold by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The College offers courses in sustainability and uses sustainable practices on-campus. www.evergreen.edu/
The Holland-Burgerville, Vancouver, offsets 100 percent of the electricity for the 39 restaurants with wind power, support organic farming and ranching by buying local, fresh, and organic food, and educates customers on environmental stewardship. www.thehollandinc.com/
Whitman Mission National Historic Site, Walla Walla, a unit of the National Park Service, uses solar power for some of its energy, conserves water, buys recycled products, and composted 47 tons of yard waste in 2006 rather than landfilling it. www.nps.gov/whmi
Yelm Earth, worm & castings farm, Yelm, a commercial vermicomposter (composting with worms), sells organic soil amendments and crops, and home kits. The company educates the public and participate in research on the benefits of vermicomposting. www.yelmworms.com/
The Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices began in 1991. It will honor its 110th winner this year. An external panel of pollution prevention and sustainability experts select the winners, after an extensive review by Ecology staff.
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Media Contact: Mariann Cook-Andrews, Hazardous Waste Program, 360-407-6740
For more information: Governor's Award for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practices website: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/hwtr/GovAward/index.html
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
