2017 Federal Green Challenge Award Winners in the Northeast Region

Recognition was an important part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Awards were given at the regional level in the categories of Waste, and Water and Education and Outreach.

In Region 2, which serves New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the 2017 award winners were the Department of Energy Brookhaven National Laboratory, the Department of Energy Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL), the Veterans Affairs Caribbean Health Care Facility System (VACHS), the General Services Administration Alfonse D’Amato United States Courthouse, and the Department of Interior Cabo Rojo Fish and Wildlife Service. Below are descriptions of what the awardees achieved and ways they achieved reductions.

Waste, and Education and Outreach

Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, NY

The Brookhaven National Laboratory increased its recycling rate by 5.6 percent and diverted all 6,114 tons of its waste from landfills.

Additionally, more than 32,000 K-12 students, teachers and other participated in educational programs at the laboratory, ranging from basic science concepts to in-depth research and collaboration with laboratory scientists and engineers.

Waste

Department of Energy, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL), Princeton, NJ

The Princeton Plasma Physics Lab increased its recycling rate by 13 percent and saved more than $250,000 by diverting 3,766 tons of waste from landfills, which included the composting of waste.

Waste

Department of Veterans Affairs, Caribbean Health Care System, San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Caribbean Health Care System decreased the total amount of municipal solid waste it landfilled by 67 percent. It achieved this by increasing composting by 73 percent, increasing recycling by 81 percent, and increasing material reuse and donation by 293 percent, saving $14,000.

Waste

General Services Administration, Alfonse D'Amato United States Courthouse, Central Islip, NY

The Alfonse D’Amato U.S. Courthouse recycled 21.2 tons more than the previous year and increased its waste diversion rate by 10.5 percent. The cost savings of the waste diversion was $3,430.

Water and Energy

Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge, Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico

The Cabo Rojo National Wildlife Refuge saved more than 718,000 gallons of water by reducing the amount of water used for agriculture by 1,122 percent, saving $11,417.

It also decreased its energy use by 178 percent from the previous year, saving almost $165,000.