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What is P2 Week?
National Pollution Prevention Week is the third full week in September each year. This week is an opportunity for individuals, businesses, and government to emphasize and highlight their pollution prevention and sustainability activities and achievements, expand current pollution prevention efforts, and commit to new actions.
National Pollution Prevention Week is the time when businesses, environmental groups and
citizens can join forces for a common cause. By sharing information about pollution prevention (P2), businesses can become more competitive, businesses and government can realize cost savings, and environmental quality can be enhanced.
NPPR and P2 Week
The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable assists with promoting P2 Week through various events and activities. The MVP2 Awards are open to all organizations and companies committed to pollution prevention. The awards are designed to recognize outstanding, innovative pollution prevention projects and programs. The awards are judged on the following five general criteria: innovation, measurable results, transferability, commitment, and optimization of available resources. Judges are instructed to specifically look for applications that demonstrate source reduction activities. To learn more about the MVP2 Awards and apply, visit the award Guidelines section of our site.
NPPR also distributes P2 Week Posters. These posters help celebrate Pollution Prevention Week and are a great way to showcase your organizations' support for P2. Click here to view the 2007 P2 Week poster and click here to pre-order your 2007 P2 Week Posters now!.
Learn more about what you can do to help reduce waste and support Pollution Prevention by engaging in some or all of the activities listed below.
At Home:
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Turn down the heat or air conditioning at night. Turn off lights and appliances when not in use; install sensors where appropriate.
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Replace incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient fluorescent ones.
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Increase the amount of insulation in your home to reduce heat loss.
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Do not mow your lawn or fill your gas tank on Ozone Action Days.
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Minimize water use by purchasing efficient toilets, faucets, and shower heads.
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Purchase rechargeable batteries, reducing the amount of trash going into landfills.
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Buy less toxic cleaning supplies or make your own. Baking soda and water can be used instead of ammonia-based all-purpose cleaners.
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Purchase products with minimal packaging.
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Use little or no fertilizer or pesticides, especially near lakes and streams.
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Recycle plastics, glass, aluminum, styrofoam, newspaper, used motor oil, transmission fluid, and brake fluid.
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Join a Food Co-op or buy locally.
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Reuse grocery bags by taking them with you to the store.
At Work:
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Carpool, bicycle, walk, or take mass transportation to work.
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Use reusable lunch containers instead of paper and plastic bags.
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Use a copier that prints on both sides of the paper to reduce paper use.
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Recycle toner cartridges and printer materials.
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Use reusable cups for coffee and other beverages.
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Share the benefits of a recycling program with management.
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Look into the installation of energy saving lights.
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Seek business opportunities with environmentally sound companies.
At School:
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Pack kids lunches in reusable containers instead of disposable brown and plastic bags.
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Reduce materials and recycle what is used.
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Perform a waste audit in the school.
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Maintain heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, and other energy using equipment to reduce the amount of energy used.
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Install energy efficient lighting in the school.
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Print copies on both sides of each sheet of paper.
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Use washable dishes in the cafeteria.
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Use non-mercury-containing thermometers.
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Start an Eco-Club or form a P2 Team consisting of students, teachers, and school administrators to implement P2 actions for the year.
Spread the word about Pollution Prevention throughout your community, work or school!
Order Your P2 Week Posters NOW!
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