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Get ready for Pollution Prevention Week,
Sept. 15-21
By Tony Hayes
research associate
If you could do one thing to help reduce pollution,
one small thing that you think "wouldn't make much of a difference,"
what would it be? Would you try to remember to turn the lights out when
you are not using them? Would you bring your own canvas bag to the grocery
store? Or would you request that your office, department or organization
establish a committee to focus on pollution prevention at work?
National Pollution Prevention Week is a perfect time to take this collective
step forward.
National Pollution Prevention Week: Front and center
The first thing you could do, right now, is write "Pollution
Prevention Week" across the third week of September on your most visible
calendar. Pollution Prevention Week was established in 1992, first in California
and then nationwide, as an opportunity to jump-start pollution prevention
efforts. Last year, local governments, businesses and other organizations
from 24 states used Pollution Prevention Week to announce their renewed
dedication to creating environmentally sustainable communities, and plot
future pollution prevention activities.
What can I do?
There are many activities that local governments can do to promote pollution
prevention and Pollution Prevention Week. For example, during NACo's recent
Annual Conference, county officials from 33 communities showed their support
for preventing pollution by recording public service announcements for their
local radio stations to broadcast during Pollution Prevention Week. Your
local radio station may be interested in assisting you with a public service
announcement of your own.
Other activities that you may want to consider include: recognizing and
rewarding local companies that practice pollution prevention; starting an
interagency or community-based committee to research and support pollution
prevention opportunities; or educating the community about environmental
shopping at local shopping centers.
(If you would like to receive the Pollution Prevention Week "Get
Started" brochure, which includes a list of Pollution Prevention Week
activities and a sample proclamation to support this important event, complete
the adjacent form and fax it back to us, or e-mail your request to Tony
Hayes at <thayes@naco.org>.)
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