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Envirobytes - Archive
EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending February 13, 2009
EPA OIL PROGRAM 2009 NEWSLETTER IS NOW AVAILABLE
The February 2009 edition of the Oil Program Newsletter is now available for distribution. The electronic newsletter provides information about preventing, preparing and responding to oil spills in and around the mid-Atlantic region (including the states of Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia). Topics include: Is Spill Prevention Cost Effective? What information can I find on previous spills? The current mailing list includes the regulated community, state and local government. The newsletter is available on-line at https://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/index.htm and through e-mail by request.
SOLID WASTE GRANT HELPS RECYCLE MORE THAN 118 TONS OF PAPER
The EPA Solid Waste Program gave a $12,500 grant to the Central Virginia Waste Management Authority (CVWMA) to implement a paper recycling program in the Central Virginia schools for the 2007-2008 school year. In the latest grant update the CVWMA reports that the 28 schools enrolled in the program collected 118.4 tons of paper from September 2007 to January 2009. Without this grant, the paper would have ended up in a landfill. According to CVWMA, the pilot had an environmental impact equivalent to saving more than 2,000 trees, 823,000 gallons of water, and 411 cubic yards of landfill airspace. For more information, go to
(http://www.cvwma.com/education_and_outreach/education_resources/school_recycling/pilot_program.wbp.
AIRPORTS INCREASE RECYCLING THANKS TO EPA SOLID WASTE PROGRAM GRANT
In 2006, the Region 3 Solid Waste Program awarded an $11,108 grant to the Maryland Environmental Service (MES) to increase the amount of recycling done at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall and Martin State Airports. In the program's most recent quarterly report, MES reports that it has contacted a local composter, Recycle Green, to start a program for food waste composting. MES is also working with the company E-Structors to recycle pallets and with Anne Arundel County to recycle yard debris and are also looking at programs to expand the recycling of electronics and magazines. Prior to the EPA grant the airports recycled 28 percent of their waste (178 tons recycled), in December 2008, the airports recycled a total of 222.5 tons.
THE EPA AGING INITIATIVE WEBSITE ANNOUNCES A NEW FACT SHEET
EPA's Aging Initiative Website provides information about the Agency's efforts to protect the environmental health of older persons. The U.S. is a rapidly aging nation, and the number of older persons in the nation is expected to double by more than 70 million by 2030. Click here for more information. EPA's Aging Initiative is announcing a new fact sheet to protect older adults and their caregivers from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. It outlines an easy method to use to help older adults prevent CO poisoning. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/pcmp/index.htm To read all the fact sheets, go to https://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/factsheets/index.htm
NEW EPA BLOG ENCOURAGES STUDENTS IN GRADES 4 TO 12 TO SHARE THEIR IDEAS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE
These days, children seem more knowledgeable about protecting the environment than adults. And EPA wants to encourage them -- not only to learn more about taking actions to reduce their own personal energy use -- but to share their thoughts and ideas through a new EPA blog. The blog will present a new topic each week. The first discussion will focus on recycling CDs and DVDs. The website will also include other tools such as a carbon calculator for students to evaluate their energy use, and daily action steps. The Website is available for students at http://blog.epa.gov/blog/category/studentsforclimateaction/
EPA ANNOUNCES 3RD ANNUAL RACHEL CARSON CONTEST
EPA is inviting the public to submit creative projects in four categories: photography, essay, poetry and dance (a new category) to the 3rd annual Rachel Carson intergenerational "Sense of Wonder" competition. Contestants can select one of these mediums to share their own reflections on the wonders of nature. Rachel Carson is considered to be the founder of the contemporary environmental movement through her book, Silent Spring whose publication reversed the nation's pesticide policy to protect nature. The contest seeks to instill in the contestants, the same sense of wonder for nature that Carson had. The deadline for entries is June 10. Winners will be announced September 2009. For detailed information, go to https://www.epa.gov/aging/resources/thesenseofwonder/index.htm
MANUFACTURERS CHALLENGED TO INCREASE COLLECTION OF RECYCLED TVS
EPA is challenging electronics retailers and television manufacturers nationwide to increase the collection and recycling of discarded TVs through its Plug-In to eCycling TV recycling challenge competition running through August 2009. Plug-In to eCycling is a partnership between EPA and electronics manufacturers and retailers encouraging consumers to donate or recycle their used electronics to make the TV manufacturing process more environmentally viable. EPA will select and recognize the most innovative entry based on criteria such as innovation, consumer outreach, pounds of TVs collected, and responsible recycling practices.
EPA MID-ATLANTIC REGION PREPARES FOR 2009 PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW ON MARCH 1 - 8
The Pennsylvania Flower Show "Bella Italia" will be here this spring from March 1 – 8 at the Philadelphia Convention Center. EPA's exhibit is titled "L'acqua e vita La vita e acqua" or "Water is Life, Life is Water" in Italian seeks to educate the public about wetlands and how a watershed starts with the birth of a stream. Wetlands provide important habitat for waterfowl, fish and mammals, and migrating birds, to rest, feed and nest during their long journeys. Wetlands destruction is a leading cause of species extinction. EPA's exhibit teaches homeowners about the importance of integrating native plants and green landscaping into their home landscaping to reduce harm to the environment. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/reg3esd1/garden/index.htm. For preliminary information on the Flower Show, go to http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html
