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EPA Honors "United We Serve" Volunteers for Grandview C-4 School District's Chemical Cleanout

Release Date: 09/10/2009
Contact Information: Beckie Himes, (913) 551-7253, himes.beckie@epa.gov

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Environmental News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Kansas City, Kan., Sept. 10, 2009) - As part of the White House's "United We Serve" volunteer initiative, EPA Region 7 and the Grandview, Mo., C-4 School District today honored two companies for helping to collect and dispose of outdated and excess chemicals from the district's middle and high school science labs and custodial stocks.

Last month, employees of Tradebe Pollution Control Industries, Inc. (PCI), of East Chicago, Ind.; and Ash Grove Cement Company, of Overland Park, Kan., worked with school staff to inventory, pack and transport chemicals from the school to PCI's facility in Indiana, all at no cost to the district. In ceremonies today at Grandview High School, both firms were honored for their support.

Today's event was scheduled in conjunction with tomorrow's official observance of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, which was formally established by President Obama in April with the signing of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.

EPA, which supports the White House's "United We Serve" initiative, estimates that 33,000 middle and high schools across the country have outdated or improperly stored chemicals onsite in maintenance closets or classrooms that could endanger students, school staff and surrounding communities.

The Missouri Center for Safe Schools, which was instrumental in the chemical cleanout at Grandview Middle and High Schools, will assist the school district to make its chemical management practices sustainable by training key personnel.

As part of today's event, Cadence Environmental Energy, of Michigan City, Ind., and the Cement Kiln Recycling Coalition donated a maple tree to Grandview High School for planting in its "outdoor classroom." The recognition event also included the Grandview High School Jazz Band, an appearance by Robodog (a robot engineering project by students assisted by local businesses), and Eco Elvis. Students also demonstrated "green" chemistry experiments at the event.