Director's Message
A proud history, a hopeful future
| Press the play button to view a message from George Vander Velde, Director of WMRC. |
There are plenty of pundits who say that people must choose between what is good for the environment and what is good for the economy. We at WMRC think that is nonsense. The natural resources of Illinois are what makes this state a great place to live and do business, and they will continue to be a key element in making the engines of business hum.
Settlers first came to Illinois because the fertile soils, plentiful waters, and other natural resources made it a good place in which to live and prosper. Today the natural resources of Illinois still play an important role in creating a good business climate. Preserving these natural resources is, of course, what the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) is all about. As a division of IDNR, the work of the Waste Management and Research Center is an important part of the state's service to the citizens of Illinois.
Since Illinois is known as "The Prairie State" we can never lose sight of the importance of the environment. However, Illinois is also one of the world's great industrial powerhouses, so business must be nurtured and supported.
The best way to manage waste is to avoid creating it in the first place. This seems like a simple concept, but it is one that only the best of Illinois' companies and organizations actually implement. Each year WMRC works with companies and organizations throughout the state to develop and implement pollution prevention ideas. The savings to the environment and the economy accomplished through these pollution prevention efforts are staggering. They save companies and organizations millions of dollars in material and disposal costs, prevent tons of waste materials from being released into the environment, and save millions of gallons of water from being sent to treatment facilities.
These efforts can be and are being made by organizations of all sizes. WMRC works with companies ranging in size from a local dry cleaner to an internationally known corporate manufacturing giant. And we have worked on pollution prevention programs in service organizations from large national laboratories to rural schools.
The efforts made by these businesses and organizations are the kind that make Illinois great. The shortsighted pundits must never be allowed to discourage anyone from making a difference in the way he or she interacts with the environment.
There are always people who say something cannot be done. The staff at WMRC believes that the right things can, and must, be done to make this an even better state in which to live.
What is good for the environment is good for business as well. It's been that way since Illinois began, and WMRC is working to see that it continues that way for generations to come. Sustaining Illinois is what WMRC is all about!
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