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Press Release
Waste Division

PHOENIX (September 19, 2019) – The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) recognizes businesses, organizations and residents for their voluntary efforts to protect and enhance the environment of Arizona through the Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP). VESP encourages evenyone to complement existing regulations with new tools and strategies that will reduce costs and spur innovation, while also protecting people and nature. Many of the participants work to reduce and even eliminate pollution in Arizona’s environment, making the celebration of VESP an important part of Pollution Prevention Week, September 16-22, 2019.

Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program | View >

Arizona Pollution Prevention Week Governor’s Proclamation | View >

VESP membership includes recognition and incentives that are commensurate with the participants demonstrated level of commitment to continuous environmental improvement, fostering public outreach and community involvement, and measuring performance effectiveness. There varying levels of recognition, which are listed below along with examples of participants in each category. Platinum is the highest level of recognition with Bronze being the first level. Copper is a recognition for one-time projects. Since 2013, ADEQ has awarded 114 VESPs.

Platinum

The Fairmont Scottsdale Princess received a Platinum VESP in August 2019 and is the first hotel to be recognized at this level. Management and staff implemented an efficient program to reduce food waste, which includes donating unused food to a local program to feed the hungry and then composting the rest.

Gold

L3Harris received a Gold VESP in July 2019. They installed a dust collector to isolate non-hazardous waste grit, which is now recycled rather than ending up in a landfill. During the first 8 months of 2019, they recycled 28 tons of waste grit.

Silver

The Towns of Springerville, Show Low and Eager each received Silver VESPs in 2015 when local officials implemented Small Community Environmental Protection Plans. Each town also specified a specific environmental improvement to be made to enhance their community.

Bronze

Jim Click Automotive received a Bronze VESP in 2018 after implementing a program to conduct emissions testing at their sales lots, rather than have technicians drive the vehicles to an emissions station. Not only does this save time and money for both Jim Click and the State emissions testing program, but it also reduces the amount of pollutants generated from traveling to and from the stations.

Copper

Salt River Project’s (SRP) Coronado Generating Station was awarded a Copper VESP in August 2019 for volunteering to assist with removing unused magnesium chloride illegally abandoned on a ranching property, thus expediting cleanup. They will be able to use the product in their operations, keeping it out of a waste stream. 

Do you know of an organization or individual that should be considered? Email >

Tell us how you are doing your part in preventing pollution with #P2Week2019 on social media. We’ll also be posting about the efforts on Arizona schools and businesses to reduce their pollution.

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ADEQ Pollution Prevention Program | Learn More >

Contact

ADEQ Public Information Officer | 602-771-2215 (office) | 602-540-8072 (cell) | E-mail >