EPA Region 8 Pollution Prevention (P2) Award Program

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Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Tribal Lands

Purpose:

Pollution prevention (P2) is a successful, non-regulatory approach to conserve energy and water, reduce the use of toxic materials, reduce harmful air emissions at the source, and save money. The purpose of this awards program is to recognize organizations whose P2 successes and best practices exemplify environmental excellence and innovation thereby encouraging other entities to consider implementing P2 approaches.

Consider applying for this non-monetary award to recognize your organization.

Application Submission Window:

April 3, 2023 through May 31, 2023.

What is pollution prevention (P2)? 

P2 is any practice that reduces environmental releases of hazardous substances, pollutants, or contaminants prior to entering a waste stream for recycling, treatment, or disposal. In other words, P2 is source reduction, the prevention of waste generation and environmental releases at the source. It is not treatment, minimization, or diversion of wastes. P2 conserves natural resources, including water and energy.

Who is eligible? 

Business and organizations are eligible to apply for consideration. Government agencies, EPA grantees, contractors and cooperative agreement recipients are not eligible to apply, however they can nominate a business to be considered for an award.  A compliance screening will be done for all eligible award applications.

If you are an organization in another EPA Region, please contact your Regional P2 Coordinator to determine if your Region participates in the EPA P2 Awards Program.

What kind of projects are eligible? 

Projects eligible for the awards must have taken place within the past three years and meet the goals of the P2 program which include, but are not limited to the following:

• Eliminate or reduce greenhouse gas and waste generation
• Conserve natural resources and materials, including water and energy
• Prevent spills and accidental releases to air, land and water
• Reduce hazardous materials use
• Promote the purchasing and use of less hazardous or more efficient products and equipment
• Implement green chemistry practices
• Increase an organization’s efficiency while increasing sustainable practices

Examples of P2 activities or projects:

• Reducing chemical use,
• Substituting hazardous chemicals with safer alternatives,
• Conserving water and/or energy,
• Equipment or technology modifications, process or procedure modifications, reformulation or redesign of products, substitution of raw materials, and 
• Improvements in maintenance, training, or inventory control.

Additional examples of P2 activities are listed on EPA’s P2 webpage: https://www.epa.gov/p2/pollution-prevention-case-studies 

Note: Non-P2 projects/activities such as waste disposal, treatment or recovery (recycling, composting, waste-to-energy, etc.), are NOT eligible for recognition under this award program.

EPA P2 Awards Application

Scoring: Point values for each question are listed; a total of 100 points are available.  Award recipients will be selected based on their responses to the application questions below.  Each response has a limited number of characters. P2 efforts must have taken place within the past three years. You may include relevant photographs or news articles (see final question).

The deadline for submitting applications is May 31, 2023.  To be eligible, EPA Region 8 must receive a completed online application, which includes responses to the questions and completed form below. EPA reserves the right to contact the applicant to clarify any questions regarding the application. 

For helpful information about P2 technical assistance providers in the EPA Region 8 – Colorado, Utah, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Tribal Lands please visit EPA's P2 website.
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact:
Melissa Payan – EPA Region 8 P2 Coordinator
(303) 312-6511
[email protected]

Application Process:

To apply for an award, submit the P2 Regional Awards Application.

2021 Winners

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.