COLUMBUS, OH -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the State of Ohio for its efforts in recycling and waste prevention during the year 2000. Ohio received the U.S. EPA's Partner of the Year Award for state governments as part of the national "WasteWise" program.
Ohio's state agencies recycled 2,270 tons of materials in 2000 - a 5 percent increase over the previous year. Purchases of recycled-content materials by all state agencies increased 3 percent in 2000 over 1999.]
Among the initiatives to reduce waste and promote recycling by agencies statewide were:
- A plan by the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation to use a paperless medical claims imaging system that saved $483,000 in expenses, 43,406 pounds of office paper and 2,500 pounds of toner cartridges.
- A choice by the Ohio Department of Administrative Services to receive long-distance records on CD-ROM instead of paper, subsequently conserving 1,440 pounds of paper a year.
- Elimination of a form that saved 573 pounds of paper annually for the Office of Budget and Management.
- An effort by eight employees of the Ohio Department of Taxation (ODT) to reuse nearly 60 pounds of out-of-date office paper as packing material, scratch pads and other items, and to make more extended use of e-mail in correspondence. A second effort by the ODT to reuse interoffice mail envelopes saved 573 pounds of paper last year.
The U.S.EPA's "WasteWise" program unites more than 1,160 businesses, government agencies and institutions in an effort to reduce waste. Participation in the program is free and voluntary and focuses on cooperation among people to find practical methods of reducing municipal waste. Each year, EPA formally recognizes those partners that achieve significant waste reduction results at an awards ceremony. This year's ceremony, which recognized 54 organizations, was held yesterday in Washington, D.C.
For further information, call the WasteWise Helpline at 1-800-EPA-WISE (372-9473) or, visit the WasteWise web site at www.epa.gov/wastewise
For Further Information Contact:
Kelly Armfelt, ODNR Recycling & Litter Prevention
(614) 265-6358
-or-
Jane Beathard, ODNR Media Relations
(614) 265