PHOENIX — Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) officials announced today that Governor Douglas A. Ducey has designated the week of September 18 – 24 by proclamation as Arizona Pollution Prevention (P2) Week. Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the ADEQ P2 Program encourages the general public, schools, local governments and businesses to be a part of Arizona P2 Week and learn about steps we all can incorporate in our daily routines to prevent and reduce waste, improve the health of our communities and environment, and elevate our standard of living.

Governor Ducey noted that “National Pollution Prevention Week” is an opportunity for government and the private sector to focus attention on how P2 saves businesses and taxpayers money and conserves Arizona’s natural resources for future generations.

“As one of our nation’s first Pollution Prevention Programs, ADEQ’s P2 Program benefits both our participants and our state by supporting production processes that improve environmental quality and economic competitiveness,” ADEQ Director Misael Cabrera said. “Now in our 25th year, we’re demonstrating that ADEQ’s P2 Program in Arizona is creating an environment in which new processes and technologies are helping industry to reduce pollution while also enhancing operational efficiency and business productivity.”

To celebrate and increase public awareness, each weekday during P2 Week, ADEQ will share valuable information, tools and resources via Facebook, Twitter and our website, focusing each day on one P2 source reduction theme including trash, transportation, food, energy and water, and air.

ADEQ also will host two free webinars that showcase real-world examples of how ADEQ P2 Program participants have reduced waste and pollution, increased efficiency and saved money. Arizona businesses meeting any one of three P2 thresholds (http://www.azdeq.gov/p2_thresholds) are required to create and implement a plan to minimize the use of toxic substances and/or generation of hazardous waste. P2 webinar topics will include P2 Program facilities’ environmental achievements in the areas of reducing solid and hazardous waste generation, toxic substance use substitution and reduction, reducing energy and water consumption, and industry best management practices. In addition, ADEQ will provide an overview of its Voluntary Environmental Stewardship Program (VESP), including participant benefits.

ADEQ encourages Arizona businesses and the interested public to register for the following P2 Week free webinars:

Tues, Sept. 20, 2016 – 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. (MST)
P2 Webinar Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4940255654047033347
Presenters: Ping, Inc., Grand Canyon Railway and United Dairymen of Arizona

Wed, Sept. 21, 2016 – 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (MST)
P2 Webinar Registration URL: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2264067441784591874
Presenters: Boeing Mesa, Intel Ocotillo and ADEQ VESP

View the Arizona Pollution Prevention Week proclamation and learn more about the ADEQ P2 Program and National Pollution Prevention Week by visiting:

http://azdeq.gov/p2_proclamation_2016
http://www.azdeq.gov/programs/waste-programs/pollution-prevention-p2-planning-program
http://www2.epa.gov/p2week