Pollution Prevention View A Newsletter from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Fall 2001 Volume 2, Issue 1 I N S I D E D E P O F F I C E O F P O L L U T I O N P R E V E N T I O N Shop ‘Til You Drop...Not! Did You Know? In order to encourage state agencies to use products that conserve energy, pro- tect natural resources, avoid toxic ingre- dients, and safeguard health, the Con- necticut DEP and the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) have teamed up to create an Environ- mentally Preferable Purchasing Program. The program promotes environmentally preferable products (EPPs) by researching products and ser- vices, adding environmental language to contracts, and educating purchasers about the benefits of EPPs. The DAS provides contracting services that are available to all state agencies and mu- nicipal governments. This process allows the purchasers to obtain favorable pricing for a broad scope of products and services, from copier paper and comput- ers, to motor oil and cleaning supplies. For more information, please contact Carlos Velez, DAS, at (860) 713- 5092. Cleaner Motor Boats Cleaner Motor Boats What nationwide effort happens the third week in September (17 – 23 in 2001)? It’s Pollution Prevention Week! During this week, government, businesses, and others team up by holding events to promote pollution prevention opportunities. “Shop for a Better Environment” was chosen for this year’s theme because an important way to prevent pollution is for everyone to be environmentally aware when considering purchases. You Are What You Eat! Support area farmers – buy local. Select domestically produced certified organic food. Buy in bulk – avoid excess packaging. Shop Smart for your Home and Car! Choose a fuel efficient and lowemission vehicle. Look for non-toxic household cleaning supplies and lawn and garden products. Buy compact fluorescent lamps to replace incandescent bulbs. Purchase clothing that does not require dry cleaning. Planning to Renovate, Remodel, or Build? Reuse existing materials, furniture, and appliances as much as possible. Buy energy efficient and water conserving appliances, such as lighting, showerheads, air conditioners, and refrigerators. Choose low-VOC paints, water-based floor sealers, and wood products from certified sustainable forests. Go Green at the Office! Purchase post-consumer recycled paper products. Buy computer equipment from manufacturers with take-back programs.Use rechargeable toner cartridges for photocopiers and laser printers. The Best Purchasing Decision is No Purchase at All! Ask yourself – do you need it or want it? Even environmentally friendly products require resources, use up energy and create wastes when they are made and when recycled. Too often, we buy things for all the wrong reasons such as media or peer pressure, quick gratification, ego boost, or boredom. So save yourself time and money, and help the environment, by only purchasing items that you truly need. (continued inside)
Transcript
P o l l u t i o n P r e v e n t i o n V i e wA Newsletter from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection Fall 2001Volume 2, Issue 1
I N S I D E
D E P O F F I C E O F P O L L U T I O N P R E V E N T I O N
Shop ‘Til You Drop...Not!
Did YouKnow?
In order to encourage state agencies to
use products that conserve energy, pro-
tect natural resources, avoid toxic ingre-
dients, and safeguard health, the Con-
necticut DEP and the Department
of Administrative Services (DAS)
have teamed up to create an Environ-
mentally Preferable Purchasing
Program. The program promotes
environmentally preferable products
(EPPs) by researching products and ser-
vices, adding environmental language
to contracts, and educating purchasers
about the benefits of EPPs. The DAS
provides contracting services that are
available to all state agencies and mu-
nicipal governments. This process
allows the purchasers to obtain
favorable pricing for a broad
scope of products and services,
from copier paper and comput-
ers, to motor oil and cleaning
supplies. For more information, please
contact Carlos Velez, DAS, at (860) 713-
5092.
CleanerMotor Boats
CleanerMotor Boats
What nationwide effort happens the third week inSeptember (17 – 23 in 2001)?It’s Pollution Prevention Week! During this week, government, businesses, andothers team up by holding events to promote pollution prevention opportunities.“Shop for a Better Environment” was chosen for this year’s theme because animportant way to prevent pollution is for everyone to be environmentally aware whenconsidering purchases.
You Are What You Eat! Support area farmers – buy local.Select domestically produced certified organic food. Buy in bulk – avoid excess packaging.
Shop Smart for your Home and Car! Choose a fuel efficientand lowemission vehicle. Look for non-toxic household cleaning supplies and lawn and garden products. Buy compact fluorescent lampsto replace incandescent bulbs. Purchase clothing that does not requiredry cleaning.
Planning to Renovate, Remodel, or Build? Reuse existing materials, furniture, and appliances as much as possible.Buy energy efficient and water conserving appliances, such as lighting,showerheads, air conditioners, and refrigerators. Choose low-VOC paints,water-based floor sealers, and wood products from certified sustainableforests.
Go Green at the Office! Purchase post-consumer recycled paper products. Buy computer equipment from manufacturers withtake-back programs.Use rechargeable toner cartridges for photocopiersand laser printers.
The Best Purchasing Decision is No Purchase at All! Ask yourself – do you need it or want it? Even environmentallyfriendly products require resources, use up energy and create wasteswhen they are made and when recycled. Too often, we buy things for all the wrong reasons such as media or peer pressure, quickgratification, ego boost, or boredom. So save yourself time andmoney, and help the environment, by only purchasing itemsthat you truly need. (continued inside)
2 P2 View | Fall 2001
Students and community groups are sweeping up anddigging in the dirt at the community garden andnatural area known as the Chestnut and EdwardsStreet Project. Just across from Quirk Middle Schoolin Hartford, property resurrected from dumped tires,lead contamination and tree stumps has sproutedvegetables, flowers and raspberries due to the suc-cessful efforts of the Project coalition.
Wendi diCorcia of Quirk Middle Schoolhas involved many students and teachersin the Project. “I was always taught to leavea place better than when you came in. Thisgardening project gives our studentsownership in this neighborhood. This iswhere their school is. This is their garden.It gives them a sense of pride.”
In addition to Quirk Middle SchoolGarden Club the coalition includes the CTDEP, the House of Bread soup kitchen, KnoxParks Foundation, Trinity College, City ofHartford Brownfield Program and Dept. ofPublic Works, UCONN Cooperative Exten-sion Master Gardeners, USDA Farm ServicesAgency, CT Agricultural Experiment Station,Sunrise Rotary Club, Leadership GreaterHartford 2001, SAND and ONE/CHANE. TheU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NewEngland region has also provided funding for the Project.
“As recently as 1996 this was a wasteland of dumpedappliances, drums, and car parts,” said Sister Theresa Fonti of theHouse of Bread. Patrons of the soup kitchen, which is locatednext to the site, now can enjoy fresh produce from the gardens.
“The state Department of Environmental Protection and theCity’s Clean Cities Program cleaned up the lot, ”said Clay/Arsenalresident Kelvin LoveJoy. “But we needed a long term solution forthis lot, something that would benefit children and families so itwouldn’t continue to be dumped on.”
The CT DEP facilitated meetings with residents through itsHartford Neighborhood Environmental Project and contacted Knox
Parks Foundation in 1996 to get a communitygarden started. Knox became the licensee ofthe lot in 1998. The City Brownfield PilotProgram paid for a study of the property in1998 and found lead contamination.
A series of clean-up steps were under-taken, including an innovative soil remediationtechnique by Trinity College students usingspecial mustard plants that take up lead fromthe soil as they grow. “The soil has beencleaned up enough for residential use,” re-ported Jeanne Webb Chavez, coordinator ofthe Hartford Brownfields Program, which paysfor sampling and remediation plans for pol-luted properties.
“Right now the gardens on the northside of the property are overflowing withtomatoes, peppers and flowers,” said JackHale of the Knox Parks Foundation. Neigh-
borhood residents interested in gardening at Chestnut Streetor in another community garden in Hartford should contactKnox Parks at (860) 951-7694. Volunteers interested in helpingwith the House of Bread’s garden should also call Knox Parks. ■
Students Join With Neighborhood to Dig In The Dirt!
Volunteers clean-up the lot in Spring 2000. The “Green Crew” tends the garden this summer.
The following groups may becontacted for informationon environmental programs
Southwest Boys and Girls ClubJackie Bethea, (860) 951-6416
■Hartford Food System
Elizabeth Wheeler, (860) 296-9325 ■
Knox Park FoundationTony Spinelli, (860) 951-7694
P2 View | Fall 2001 3
What’sNew
In P2?Cleaner Motor Boats
The boating marketplace now has newmarine engine technology. The new out-board engines (also used in personalwatercraft) are replacing the conventionalcarbureted/electronic fuel injection 2-stroke engine technology with new 4-strokeengine technology or direct fuel injection(DFI) 2-stroke engine technology.
These new engines benefit the environmentby lowering emissions 70-85% and im-proving fuel economy 25-30%. Theseengines also meet the federal environmen-tal guidelines passed in 1996 which requirethat marine manufacturers reduce enginehydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides emissionsin outboard and personal watercraft en-gines 75% by 2006.
The new 4-stroke engine is more efficientbecause the new engine is closed at thetime of injection and does not allow un-burned fuel to escape through the exhaustvalve. The DFI 2-stroke engine is alsoefficient because it sprays the fuel into thecombustion chamber after the exhaustports close.
These new engines are unlike the conven-tional 2-stroke engine that allows somefuel to pass straight through without beingburned because the intake exhaust portsare open. Although the new engines areheavier and initially more expensive topurchase, the benefits of this new tech-nology outweigh the costs. Not only dothe new engines benefit the environment,but also have improved drivability andstarting, lower vibration and noise and lessof a smoky smell.
One year ago, DEP Commissioner Arthur J. Rocque, Jr., set a goal to collect 2001pounds of mercury in Connecticut during 2001. The program has been successful andresults indicate that state residents are willing to participate in mercury reduction. Apublic education campaign on the dangers of mercury brought the message througha television ad to most of the state. Free exchanges of mercury thermometers for digitalmodels have been very popular. Over 50,000 thermometers have been exchangedsince last year. Through September 2001, 2001 pounds of mercury have been collectedas follows:
Household hazardous waste (HHW)collections proved to be the largestsource of mercury through this program.These programs accept elemental mercuryas well as mercury products fromresidents. The dental program was alsovery successful, taking in over 400pounds of mercury from dental offices.
The school clean-out program was moderately successful but more so than thenumbers might indicate. A number of schools conducted clean-outs during this periodbut did not report any results. While the thermometer exchanges did not bring in alarge percentage of the overall amount of mercury collected, they were a practical andeffective educational component for the public.
Efforts to reduce the mercury present in Connecticut's environment are continuing. Many thermometer exchanges are scheduled for the fall in cooperation with householdhazardous waste days. A list of collection dates for your community is on the DEPwebsite www.dep.state.ct.us/wst/recycle/hhwsched.htm or call the DEP PollutionPrevention Office at (860) 424-3297. ■
Here’s a few related websites –www.eco-label.org What does that label (e.g., organic, green) really mean? Consumers Union providesa free comprehensive guide to the meaning of different environmental labels found on food, wood and otherhousehold products.
www.ucsusa.org Check over the “Green Living” shopping list prepared by the Union of Concerned Scientistsso that “before you buy what you want, figure out what you need.”
www.newdream.org Hoping to simplify your life, free up time, money, personal energy, and protect theenvironment? The Center for a New American Dream’s “More Fun, Less Stuff” can help you get started.
www.fueleconomy.gov Are you thinking of buying a car? Compare fuel economy of the models alongwith emission and crash test results, and local gas price information.
www.energystar.gov Look for products, homes, and businesses with the Energy Star label – it’s the easyway to save the money and the environment.
www.greenhome.com Find “green” alternatives to the products you use everyday. Offer consumerproducts that must pass the “Green Home Product Approval Process” to become a “Green Home PreferredProduct.”
www.coopamerica.org Support socially and environmentally responsible businesses by purchasing theirproducts and services. Co-op America lists thousands of green companies in their Green Pages Online.
The above listing of websites is provided to you as a public service and does not constitute an endorsement by DEP.
P 2 C a l e n d a rp o l u t i o n P r e v e n t i o n W e e k e v e n t s
The Department of Environmental Protection is an affirmative action/equal action employer, providing programsand services in a fair and impartial manner. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, DEP makesevery effort to provide equally effective services for persons with disabilities. Individuals with disabilities needingauxiliary aids or services, or for more information by voice or TTY/TDD, call(860) 424-3000.
For a free subscription, please contact Judy Prill at (860) 424-3694 ore-mail your request to [email protected]. If you are already asubscriber, but would like to save paper and postage by readingP2 View on our DEP website , please contact Judy to have yourname removed from the mailing list.
P2 View is published by the Connecticut Department of EnvironmentalProtection, Office of Pollution Prevention. Editor: Judy Prill; Contributors;David Westcott, Nan Peckham, Kim Trella, Mary Sherwin, Lynn Stoddardand Connie Mendolia.
Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper using water-based ink.
STATE OF CONNECTICUTDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION79 Elm StreetHartford, CT 06106-5127http://dep.state.ct.usArthur J. Rocque, Jr., Commissioner
PRSRT STD
US POSTAGE
P A I DHARTFORD CT
PERMIT NO. 4313
Friday, September 21
P2 Lecture Series
Mercury Monitoring and Emissions Con-trols in Connecticut and New England.Speakers include: Robert Carley, Directorand Chris Perkins, Associate Director fromthe University of Connecticut’s Environ-mental Research Institute; Professor DavidMiller, Pat Bresnahan, Ph.D, and JesseBash, Graduate Research Assistant fromthe University of Connecticut’s Departmentof Natural Resources Management andEngineering/Atmospheric Resources Lab.The speakers will present data from theConnecticut Atmospheric Mercury Moni-toring Network (1997 – 1999) and discussmodeling efforts that will assist in ourunderstanding of mercury transport.
This is part of DEP’s monthly lecture serieson pollution prevention topics. Lecturesare held from 11:00 a.m. to noon in thePhoenix Auditorium, DEP Building, 79 ElmSt., Hartford and are free and open to thepublic. For additional information, contactLynn Stoddard at (860) 424-3236.
Other upcoming lectures include:
October 16
Phytoremediation of Persistent OrganicPollutants. Jason White, PhD, The Connect-icut Agricultural Experiment Station. Per-sistent organic pollutants (e.g., PCBs, DDT,dioxin, and PAHs) are of environmentalconcern due to their longevity in the en-vironment and potential for significanthealth impacts. Traditional remediationtechnologies frequently fail with thesetypes of compounds but preliminary datahas indicated substantial bioavailabilityof two persistent organic pollutants (DDEand chlordane) to certain species ofplants. Mr. White will discuss his researchon defining the mechanism of uptake byvegetation and assessing the practicalsignificance for a possible phytoremedi-ation technology.
November 14
Smart Growth through Natural ResourceBased Land Use Planning. Jim Gibbons,Land Use and Natural Resources ProgramCoordinator, Cooperative Extension Sys-tem, University of Connecticut. Mr. Gib-bons will speak about strategies to guidesmart growth at the local level, using aproject in the Eight-Mile River Watershedas a case study.
Wednesday, September 19
“Shop for a BetterEnvironment”
Mini-fair in Bushnell Park, Hartford11 am - 2 pm
Enjoy the park while learning about buyingrecycled, organic farming, green build-ing/landscape design, energy-efficientappliances, and cleaning your home withalternative products.
Press event with DEP CommissionerRocque on the conclusion of the mercurycollection campaign - to be held in Bush-nell Park at 1:30 pm near the mini-fair.Other speakers include representativesfrom the CT Department of Public Health,NEWMOA, and other organizations, whichhave helped DEP, meet the statewide mer-cury goal.
Note: In case of rain, the fair will be held on Thursdayand the press event will be held on Friday.
Tuesday, September 18
Home Tour
Take a Tour of a Hartford-area homeunder construction that will use geother-mal energy. Space for this tour is limited,so please call (860) 424-3297 to makeyour reservation.
These events are free and open to thepublic. Please call (860) 424-3297 foradditional information.
OOPS – The correct website for the UCONN’s IPM program is www.hort.uconn.edu/IPM (click on the turfgrass sectionfor information on lawn care). It was incorrectly listed in our last issue.
