EPA awards $400k in grants for pollution prevention
In an effort to increase pollution prevention practices in New York and New
Jersey, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently award over $400,000
in grants.
The Agency has directed the money to fund three projects designed to: promote
use less toxic drycleaning methods; encourage more environmentally-protective
practices at marinas; and educate about the proper disposal of prescription
drugs.
“Preventing pollution at its source is one of the best ways we can protect our
air, water and land,” said EPA Regional Administrator Alan J. Steinberg. “These grants help give the experts who work on these issues every day the
resources to make a real difference for our environment.”
The highest monetary value of the grants was awarded to the New Jersey Small
Business Development Center at Rutgers University. They received a grant for
$181,240 to promote alternatives to traditional drycleaning methods. The center
will team up with New Jersey state officials and manufacturers to provide
technical support and help finance demonstration projects.
The end goal will be to help educate drycleaners on viable non-toxic methods
that can serve as a replacement for more common, but less environmentally
friendly, cleaning chemicals.
EPA additionally gave grants of $174,500 to the New York State Environmental
Facilities Corporation, a state organization based in Albany, NY, that is
funded by the government.
The corporation will combine resources with other state agencies, as well as
non-governmental organizations, in an attempt to develop simple and effective
environmental management practices for marinas located across New York.
Lastly, EPA put aside $50,000 to give to the New York State Department of
Environmental Conservation (DEC) to educated the public on the proper disposal
of pharmaceutical drugs.
Many times, such drugs are simply flushed or washed down the sink, which
oftentimes means they end up in the city’s waterways and drinking water. DEC will use the money to help get the word out
on the issue to pharmacies, hospitals and nursing homes.
All three grants comprise a part of more than $4 million in prevention pollution
grants that EPA hands out annually.
For more information on EPA Region 2’s pollution prevention program, visit www.epa.gov/region02/p2/.
Minda Supply hosts spotting seminar in NJ
This January, Kenney Slatten will present a spotting seminar at Minda Supply’s New Jersey headquarters, which is located at 380 Franklin Turnpike in Mahwah.
A.L. Wilson Chemical Co. will sponsor the event, which will take place on
Thursday, Jan. 29.
Slatten, a notable columnist, speaker and trainer for the drycleaning industry,
will cover a multitude of topics.
The list includes: the links between garment quality, customer satisfaction and
profits; basic stain removal procedures and tips; stain removal challenges such
as ink loads, dye bleeds, etc.; and bleaching agents, techniques and tips.
Refreshments will be served. The doors will be opened at 5:30 p.m. To RSVP,
contact Minda Supply at (201) 684-1720. The company’s web site is located at www.mindasupply.com.
