Two Weeks Remain to Enroll in Partnership Program
Applications are being accepted through Oct. 31 for the Partnership Program. Help us spread the word about the Program to your colleagues.
Register Now for Nov. 9 Training on Stakeholder Engagement and Facility Reporting
Join P²AD and Ceres for “On the Path toward Sustainability & Accountability: A Best Practice Training on Stakeholder Engagement & Facility Reporting.” This course will explain various performance reporting tools and protocols, examine sample sustainability reports, teach you how to identify and then engage your stakeholders, and give you ideas on how to assemble and distribute your report. The training will be held Nov. 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Capitol Education Center in Atlanta.
[Register]
Several Partners to Give Tours During NRC Event
If you are attending the National Recycling Coalition’s 25th Annual Congress and Expo next week, be sure to take advantage of the tours being offered by some of your fellow Partners. If you have not yet registered, you can register at the door and also sign up for the tours. Partners who are participating include C&A, Zoo Atlanta, Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Co. – Marietta, Southface, and InterfaceFLOR Commercial.
Seven Partners Honored for Achievements at Natural Leaders Awards
Seven Georgia companies took home awards for environmental achievement at this year’s Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia Awards held Oct. 2 at the Emory Conference Center. Blue Level Partner Lockheed Martin Aeronautics – Marietta received the Partner of the Year and Mentor of the Year awards. InterfaceFLOR Commercial, also a Blue Level Partner, received the Sustainability Award. The Innovation Award went to Red Level Partner Georgia-Pacific Resins, Inc. Blue Level Partner Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp. took home the Continual Improvement Award. The Rising Environmental Steward Award was presented to Yellow Level Partner Georgia Southwestern State University. General Motors’ Doraville Assembly, a Blue Level Partner, received the Outreach and Employee Involvement Award. White Level Partner Earth Tech, Inc. was named Advocate of the Year.
Partners Report Big Savings through 2005
Since the Partnership for a Sustainable Georgia began, Blue and Red Level Partners have reported reducing energy use by 100.6 billion BTUs, enough to power 2,680 U.S. households for a full year. Water use has fallen by 237.5 million gallons, enough to fill the Georgia Aquarium almost 30 times. Solid waste reductions have totaled 1,809 tons, almost 12 times the weight of the Statue of Liberty. The companies also reported reducing emissions of nitrous oxides (NOx) by 493 tons and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by 30 tons. They also reduced hazardous waste generation by 51,465 pounds. At the same time, they increased by 16,487 tons the amount of recycled materials they used.
Partner Applications and APRs Now On-line
Once a company has been accepted into the Partnership Program, its application and annual performance reports (APRs) become public record. This month, a new public access database was added to P²AD’s Web site where Partners and the public can view these documents. The Partner list can be sorted by each of the columns in the table by clicking the column header. The current sort order is indicated by a small up/down arrow next to the column title. Click anywhere in a row to view more information about a Partner. To view a Partner’s application or APR, any pop-up blockers must be disabled, and the free Adobe Acrobat Reader installed.
[On-line public access database] [Adobe Acrobat Reader]
Workshop Series to Cover Latest Environmental Updates and News in GA
Partners are invited to attend one of seven environmental network meetings being held around the state beginning Oct. 17. Sponsored by the Georgia Environmental Partnership (GEP), the meetings will cover the latest news on environmental issues in the state, including an OSHA update and a presentation on water conservation. Meetings are planned for Newnan, Tifton, Macon, Savannah, Augusta, Gainesville and Calhoun.
Save These Dates!
Yellow and Red Level Partners are invited to attend an EMS training from Georgia Tech in Atlanta Nov. 29. This course will cover the basics of an EMS. The aspects and impacts training will walk participants through how to identify and prioritize their aspects and impacts – one of the first steps in developing an EMS. We encourage all Yellow and Red Level Partners in the area to send two or three staff members, first-timers as well as those needing a refresher course. More details to come.
Blue Level Partner Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corporation will be sponsoring the next Partner Roundtable meeting Dec. 12. All Red and Blue Level Partners are invited to attend. More details will be announced closer to the date.
Water Conservation Grants
Beginning in March 2007, the Georgia Water Wise Council will be awarding grants for educational water conservation programs. A maximum of $2,000 per grant will be awarded. The following are eligible to apply: educational institutions, commercial businesses, state and local governments, agricultural entities, nonprofits and individuals. Projects may be educational, pilots and demonstrations, research, or implementation. Each project must have an educational component and partnerships are preferred. Application submittals are due by Jan. 31.
Baseline and Gap Assessments Available
As a Partner, you have access to many benefits including free, on-site technical assistance. Yellow Level Partners qualify for a baseline assessment. If you need help documenting your resource use, waste streams or emissions, this assessment will be invaluable. You will use the findings of the baseline as a starting point against which you will measure your progress. Yellow and Red Level Partners qualify for a gap assessment. This assessment will help you compare your current environmental management practices with the requirements of the Partnership Program or with an environmental management system (EMS). This exercise will help you find ways to develop or enhance your EMS.