News Releases from Region 06

EPA Recognizes Texas Army National Guard for Waste Reduction

DALLAS – (Aug. 9, 2016) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the Texas Army National Guard as a national winner in the Federal Green Challenge, an event that encourages federal facilities to reduce the government’s environmental impact. The guard nearly doubled the amount of waste diverted for recycling at construction projects across Texas, saving over $155,000 in waste disposal fees.

“The Texas Army National Guard shows that reducing environmental impact is a win-win, saving taxpayer money by wasting fewer resources,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “They set a great example for other federal agencies to follow.”

The guard won the national Federal Green Challenge in the waste category by increasing the amount of material from construction projects diverted for recycling instead of disposal. In total, recycled material went from 1,762.8 tons in 2014 to 3,506 tons in 2015 for a 98.8 percent increase, saving $157,849 in waste disposal fees. Regional Administrator Curry presented the award at the recent Federal Facilities Training Symposium, hosted by EPA to update federal government agencies on environmental regulations and compliance.

Regional award winners for Region 6 were also recognized at the symposium. These included the Veterans Administration Sam Rayburn Memorial Veterans Center in Bonham, Texas; Office of Natural Resources Revenue in Farmers Branch, Texas; General Services Administration Casey Courthouse in Houston, Texas, and Federal Service Center in Fort Worth, Texas; Drug Enforcement Agency El Paso Intelligence Center in El Paso, Texas; and Veterans Affairs Health Care Services in Albuquerque, N.M.;

The Federal Green Challenge is a national effort under EPA's Sustainable Materials Management Program, challenging EPA and other agencies to lead by example in reducing the federal government's environmental impact. Federal facilities or offices participate in categories of waste, energy, electronics, water, purchasing and transportation, with awards for national and regional achievement. In 2015, 290 participants saved more than $21 million and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to annual emissions of more than 518,000 million passenger vehicles. 

For a complete list of Federal Green Challenge national and regional winners: https://www.epa.gov/fgc/2016-federal-green-challenge-awards

More about the Federal Green Challenge: https://www.epa.gov/fgc

More about EPA’s Sustainable Materials Management program: https://www.epa.gov/smm

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Activities in EPA Region 6: http://www2.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

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