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Environmental and Health Benefits
Health and safety | Generator status | Reduced waste | Water quality

Health and safety protected
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We in the industry are becoming more environmentally conscious, for our employees, our customers and for the world we live in. I can still get my customers clothes clean with a less hazardous process. It’s good business.
- Dick Turner, Madison Carnolia Cleaners
We greatly reduced our use of solvents and installed a detergent parts washer. Our hands would be in it several times a day. The county provided a $500 grant toward the purchase of the $9,000 machine, but it has more than paid for itself. I don't have to spend $2,300 a year to have the solvents hauled out as hazardous waste, and I don't have to pay someone to stand there and scrub the parts.
- Rick Slater, Rick's Diagnostic & Repair Service
When I'm a great-grandfather and retired, and my great-grandkid comes up to me with three eyeballs and says Great-Grandpa, its your fault, I don't want the responsibility, and as a businessman I don’t want the liability.
- Jim Sebren, Alki Auto Repair
 
Reduced hazardous waste generator status
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The press team has managed to completely eliminate the hazardous waste designation for our waste ink, pre-distilled materials and still bottoms. Flash points are above 140, and there's no benzene to be found in the compounds. This is a major accomplishment in our efforts to be environmentally responsible, and Guenther and his team should be commended for their willingness to explore alternatives to tried and true methods in order to answer the call of environmental stewardship.
- Nancy Chapentier, Printing Control
 
Reduced, recycled or prevented wastes
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Reduced solvent by 20%, by using paint gun washer.
- Jon Carson, Fenders and Fins
We installed a rinsewater recycling and wastewater treatment system, and capped all the facility's floor drains. This diverts about 46,800 gallons of industrial wastewater from the sewer system and reduces our wastewater generation.
- JC Bianchi, owner of B & G Machine
Mercury switch out program implemented. Bio-diesel utilized in trucks. Eliminated solvent parts washer and chlorinated aerosols. Implemented written training program for truck drivers on spill control measures in the field.
- Dave Armstrong, Fleet Maintenance Manager
Our visit to Star Printing was fascinating - I am very surprised to see that almost everything they use is non-toxic, and how much they are able to recycle. This clearly shows how their practices are having a positive impact, since they could be dumping noxious chemicals instead. If businesses in our state, and around the nation, followed your lead, the United States could greatly reduce its waste problems.
- Caitlin Kidder, High School student
By recycling scrap iron, old inner tubes and grips, I save over $400 a year. My philosophy is to be conscious of everything I consume and throw away.
- Aaron Goss, Aaron's Bicycle Repair  more ›
When we started using the evaporator, we cut our wste volume 90 to 95 percent. This prevents an estimated 500 gallons of waste per month. By making these improvments there are significant cost savings available to any company.
- Alan Casebeer, Young Corporation  more ›
Metalworking fluid is checked with a refractometer to measure concentation and monitor its quality for reuse. This has cut the disposal of metalworking fluids in half over a year.
- JC Bianchi, owner of B & G Machine
We added a Smart One water-based parts washer, which only needs servicing every 3 years; and eliminated the paint booth and related products/wastes, reducing hazardous waste by 75%.
- John Pike, Pepsi-Cola Bottling Company
Over three tons of food wastes from the kitchen are copmosted each year and returned to the land. Before dinner, guests join a hosted Kitchen Garden tour where they see unusual herbs and vegetables and hear how the food that they are about to eat has been grown.
- EagleSong, The Herbfarm
 
Water quality protection
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This translates into big savings for the environment; not just in water and waste conservation, but by keeping soaps and pollutants out of storm drains and streams.
- Doug Nafziger, Advanced Mobile
Around the region more and more marinas are working to turn the tide in favor of better water quality.
- Chris Wilke, Puget Soundkeeper Alliance
Blaine Harbor Marina in Bellingham is so dedicated to clean water in the Bay that we have taken extraordinary steps such as distributing Washington State’s "Best Management Practices" to all boaters and including these in moorage agreements.
- Pam Taft, Blaine Harbor Marina
 
 
 
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