Reference GuidesState Environmental Awards Programs
Introduction
Many states use awards programs as an incentive to reward companies who adopt pollution prevention (P2) strategies. In 1981, North Carolina began the first pollution prevention awards program, calling it the Governor's Award for Excellence in Waste Reduction. The Illinois Hazardous Waste Research and Information Center (now the Illinois Waste Management and Research Center) began giving Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards in 1987 and has the oldest continuing program.
Some other interesting facts about environmental awards programs:
- 30 states currently have awards programs specifically recognizing P2. Some of these programs have a P2 award within a larger environmental awards program.
- 6 states have some kind of environmental awards/recognition program but don't recognize P2 as a specific category.
- 3 states had awards programs but discontinued them (Ohio, Pennsylvania, Arizona).
- 16 states have no environmental awards program.
- Of the states that have awards programs, 22 are called the Governor's awards.
- Of these, at least 8 actively involve the governor's office, usually by having the governor present the awards. In all of these, the state environmental agency is still heavily involved.
- There are several national and regional awards programs in the United States and Canada, sponsored both by federal agencies and the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. They are:
- United States
- National Environmental Performance Track, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ongoing recognition program)
- National Pollution Prevention Awards, sponsored by the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 7 Pollution Prevention Environmental Excellence Awards
- U.S. Department of Energy Pollution Prevention Awards
- White House Closing the Circle Awards (for federal agencies)
- Canada
- CCME Pollution Prevention Awards, sponsored by the Canadian Council of Ministries of the Environment.
- United States
E-mail library@wmrc.uiuc.edu with comments, questions, or corrections.
State-By-State Summary of Programs
Alabama
Name: Awards in Pollution Prevention
Started: 2000?
Sponsored by: Alabama Department of Environmental Management P2 Unit
WWW: http://www.adem.state.al.us/Education%20Div/P2%20Program/P2Winners.htm
Notes: They don't seem to have presented awards in 2003 or 2004. There is a 2005 application on the web site.
Alaska
None.
Arizona
AZ DEQ discontinued the Arizona Pollution Prevention Leadership Enhancement Awards. Arizona Clean & Beautiful (the Arizona affiliate of Keep America Beautiful) added a pollution prevention category to their Governor's Pride in Arizona Awards program in 1998.
Arkansas
None. They promote EPA's National Environmental Performance Track program to Arkansas businesses (http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/poa/performancetrack.htm). Case studies from Arkansas companies participating in the National Performance Track are at http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/techsvs/prog_dev.htm.
California
Name: Governor's Environmental and Economic Leadership Awards
Started: 1993
Sponsored by: California Environmental Protection Agency and Governor's Office (Governor's Office issues the press release announcing the winners)
WWW: http://www.calepa.ca.gov/Awards/GEELA/default.htm
Notes: Award categories include Children's Environmental Education, Ecosystem and Watershed Stewardship, Sustainable Practices or Facilities, Environmental and Economic Partnerships, Comprehensive Land Use Planning, Technological and Market Innovation, and Sustainable Communities.
Colorado
Name: Pollution Prevention Champions
Started: 1997
Sponsored by: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment's Pollution Prevention Program and the Colorado Environmetal Partnership
WWW: http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/el/documents/general/awrdfrm2.pdf (links to 2005 application), http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/el/documents/general/pastawrd.pdf (links to winners 1997-2004), http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/el/p2_program/chmpion5.pdf (links to 2005 winners).
Notes: State also has an environmental leadership program (http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/el/elp/elphom.asp), which is tiered like EPA's National Performance Track.
Connecticut
Name: GreenCircle Awards Program
Started: 1998
Sponsored by: Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection
WWW: http://www.dep.state.ct.us/pao/grncrc/greencircle.htm
Notes: Does not appear to be competitive. There is an application process but anyone who implements one of the suggested projects receives an award. Project categories include energy conservation, transportation, pollution prevention & recycling, and promotion of natural resource conservation or environmental awareness. Descriptions of winning projects are at http://www.dep.state.ct.us/pao/grncrc/awardrecip.htm.
Delaware
No pollution prevention awards, but they do have a Young Environmentalist of the Year award. See http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/DNREC2000/admin/education/youngenvironmentalist.htm for information about the 2005 program and http://www.dnrec.state.de.us/DNREC2000/Admin/Press/ Story1.asp?offset=50&PRID=1733 for information about the 2005 winner.
Florida
No specific P2 awards program. Awards programs appear to be administered by various offices within the Department of Environmental Protection and other state agencies. Programs include:
Domestic Wastewater Program Excellence Awards, which are given to wastewater treatment plants and POTWs and include P2 (see http://www.dep.state.fl.us/water/wastewater/dom/domaward.htm)
Commissioner's Agricultural-Environmental Awards, given through the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (see http://www.florida-agriculture.com/agenvironmental/index.htm)
Jiminy Cricket's Environmentality Challenge, given through the Department of Environmental Protection and co-sponsored by the Walt Disney World Company (http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/ed/ environmentality_challenge/04/default.htm). Open to fifth grade classes. For infomation about the 2005 award winners, see http://www.dep.state.fl.us/secretary/news/2005/04/0428_02.htm.
Georgia
Name: P2AD Partnership Program
Started: 1997
Sponsored by: Georgia Department of Natural Resources Pollution Prevention Assistance Division
WWW: http://www.p2ad.org/Assets/Documents/pp_home.html
Notes: This program is similar to the National Performance Track. Used to have the Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards, but these are no longer listed on the website as of October 2005.
Hawaii
No awards program. The state does have the Hawaii Green Business Program, a partnership between the Departments of Health; and Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii (see http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/ert/greenbusiness/). It's performance track type program. Includes water conservation, energy efficiency, and pollution prevention.
Idaho
Name: Idaho GemStars
Started: 1999
Sponsored by: Governor's Pollution Prevention Advisory Committee
WWW: http://www.idahogemstars.org/
Notes: Membership program with three tiers of participation. No annual awards.
Illinois
Name: Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards
Started: 1987
Sponsored by: Illinois Waste Management and Research Center
WWW: http://www.wmrc.uiuc.edu/main_sections/info_services/govs_awards.cfm
Notes: Oldest continuing program in the U.S.
Indiana
Name: Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence
Started: 1994
Sponsored by: The Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM), in cooperation with the Governor's Office, Lieutenant Governor's Office of Energy Policy, the Indiana Department of Administration, and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources
WWW: http://www.in.gov/idem/oppta/govawards/
Notes: Also sponsors the Indiana CLEAN Community Challenge program, which is a voluntary recognition program for local governments within the state. The program began in 2004 and is administered by IDEM in partnership with several other state agencies. The CLEAN Community Challenge asks local governments to implement environmental management systems, called Quality of Life Plans, with support from local residents and businesses. More information can be found at http://www.in.gov/idem/oppta/clean/.
Iowa
Name: Governor's Iowa Environmental Excellence Awards
Started: 2000?
Sponsored by: Coordinated by the Governor’s Office, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship, the Iowa Department of Economic Development, the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Public Health, and the Iowa Waste Reduction Center.
WWW: http://www.iowadnr.com/other/ee/index.html
Notes: Includes energy efficiency, pollution prevention, technological innovation, natural resources protection and conservation, and environmental education.
Kansas
Name: Kansas Pollution Prevention Awards and Recognition Program
Started: 1994
Sponsored by: Kansas Department of Health and Environment
WWW: http://www.kdheks.gov/sbcs/p2_pollution_prevention_awards.html
Kentucky
Name: Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards
Started: 1997?
Sponsored by: Kentucky Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Cabinet
WWW: http://www.environment.ky.gov/homepage_repository/ 2003+and+2002+EEA+winners.htm
Notes: It's unclear whether awards have been presented since 2003.
Louisiana
Name: Governor's Environmental Leadership Awards
Started: 1997?
Sponsored by: Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality. Governor hosts the program.
WWW: http://www.deq.louisiana.gov/assistance/elp/index.htm
Notes: Companies must be members of the Louisiana Environmental Leadership P2 Program.
Maine
Name: Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence
Started: 1994
Sponsored by: Maine Department of Environmental Protection
WWW: http://www.state.me.us/dep/oia/govaward.htm
Notes: Includes awards for STEP-UP (performance track program), environmental stewardship, public health & the environment, educational outreach, greenhouse gas reduction, and pollution prevention.
Maryland
Name: Tawes Award for a Clean Environment
Started: 1977
Sponsored by: Maryland Department of Environment and Maryland Petroleum Council
WWW: http://www.mde.state.md.us/citizensinfocenter/ citizen_participation/tawes_awards2003.asp
Notes: The Tawes Award is an environmental recognition program sponsored by the Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) and the Maryland Petroleum Council (MPC) in the name of late Maryland Governor J. Millard Tawes, who was also the state's first secretary of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The award is open to any individual, civic, community, or non-profit entity that has demonstrated outstanding efforts to enhance Maryland's environment over a period of time or with a single project. More of an environmental stewardship award than a pollution prevention award.
Massachusetts
Name: Governor's Awards for Outstanding Achievement in Toxics Use Reduction
Started: 1994
Sponsored by: Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Institute
WWW: http://www.turi.org/turadata/Success/GovernorsAwards.html
Notes: Established in 1994 to recognize and award outstanding achievement in Toxics Use Reduction. Awards go to industrial or commercial businesses, public or private institutions, nonprofit organizations, community groups or other public and private enterprises or individuals who have demonstrated leadership and outstanding results in toxics use reduction. Winners are recognized for their role in reducing at the source the use, generation or release of toxic substances. Not clear if this is still an active program. Last winners listed are from 1998.
Michigan
Name: Clean Corporate Citizen
Started: 1996
Sponsored by: Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
WWW: http://www.michigan.gov/deq/0,1607,7-135-3307_3666_4134-9922--,00.html
Notes: Established by statute. Isn't an awards program per se. Rather, companies participate on an ongoing basis and receive public recognition of their participation. DEQ also has an award for DEQ staff to encourage regulatory integration of P2.
Minnesota
Name: The Governor’s Awards for Excellence in Waste and Pollution Prevention
Started: 1991
Sponsored by: Governor's Office (by statue (1990 Minnesota Toxic Pollution Prevention Act) the award comes from here) and the Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance
WWW: http://www.moea.state.mn.us/p2/govaward.cfm
Mississippi
None
Missouri
Name: Governor's Environmental Excellence and Pollution Prevention Awards
Started: 2000?
Sponsored by: Missouri Chamber of Commerce (applications go here), Missouri Department of Natural Resources, and Choose Environmental Excellence
WWW: http://www.mochamber.org/moccdocs/Environmental/Pollutionprevention.pdf
Notes: Has a technology innovation category. Other categories include statewide P2, management systems, market development, outreach and education, technical assistance, and land use. Not clear if this is still an active program. Last application available is for the 2004 awards.
Montana
Name: EcoStar Awards
Started: 1996
Sponsored by: Montana Pollution Prevention Program
WWW: http://www.montana.edu/wwwated/ecostar.shtml
Notes: A P2 certification/recognition program. Includes energy efficiency and pollution prevention.
Nebraska
None
Nevada
None
New Hampshire
Name: Governor’s Award for Pollution Prevention
Started: 1993
Sponsored by: New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services P2 Program
WWW: http://www.des.state.nh.us/nhppp/GovAward/
Notes: Includes a technology category. Descriptions of eligible projects include energy efficiency and recycling.
New Jersey
Name: New Jersey Environmental Excellence Awards
Started: 1999
Sponsored by: New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, the New Jersey Corporation for Advanced Technology, and the New Jersey State League of Municipalities
WWW: http://www.state.nj.us/dep/eeawards/index.html
Notes: Categories include clean air, clean water, environmental education, environmental leadership, environmental stewardship, health ecosystems, innovative technology, land conservation, and safe & healthy communities.
New Mexico
Name: Green Zia Environmental Excellence Program
Started: 1999?
Sponsored by: New Mexico Environmental Alliance
WWW: http://www.nmenv.state.nm.us/Green_Zia_website/index.html
Notes: Participants in the program are eligible for awards from the governor each year.
New York
Name: New York State Environmental Excellence Awards
Started: 2004
Sponsored by: New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
WWW: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/eea/index.html
Notes: Started in 1994 as the New York State Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention (see http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/ppu/p2gov.html). In 2004, incorporated into the Environmental Excellence Awards. Looks for projects that demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and partnership. Includes projects that address pollution prevention, waste reduction and recycling, stormwater management, watershed planning, energy efficiency, brownfield redevelopment, habitat protection and restoration, land conservation, and other environmental protection initiatives.
North Carolina
Name: North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative
Started: 2000?
Sponsored by: North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of P2 and Environmental Assistance
WWW: http://www.p2pays.org/esi/
Notes: A performance based program similar to EPA's National Performance Track. North Carolina's Governor's Awards for Excellence in Waste Reduction were awarded from 1981-1999. See http://www.p2pays.org/main/govawards.asp for more information.
North Dakota
None
Ohio
Name: Governor's Pollution Prevention Awards
Started: 1993-1999 (don't appear to be any awarded since then)
Sponsored by: Ohio EPA Office of P2?
WWW: http://www.epa.state.oh.us/opp/gov.html (Has case studies and factsheets but no info about awards program)
Name: Governor's Award for Excellence in Energy
Started: 1994
Sponsored by: Ohio Department of Development, Office of Energy Efficiency
WWW: http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee/Governor'sAward.htm; Summaries of previous award recipients at http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/oee/GovAwardPastParticipants.htm and http://www.odod.state.oh.us/cms/uploadedfiles/CDD/OEE/GAXN%20 04%20WINNERS%20TEMPLATE%20MASTER%20DOC.pdf (2004).
Notes: Honors individuals, businesses, industries and organizations that have improved Ohio's economic competitiveness and its environment through the effective, efficient, and innovative use of energy.
Oklahoma
Name: Environmental Performance and Recognition Program
Started: ?
Sponsored by: Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality Customer Service Division Pollution Prevention Program
WWW: http://www.deq.state.ok.us/CSDnew/EPRP/whatis.htm
Notes: Performance track program based on the Malcolm Baldrige Business Performance Excellence Criteria and the Oklahoma Quality Award Foundation (http://www.oklahomaquality.com/) program. Used to have Excellence in Pollution Prevention Awards and Recognition (http://www.deq.state.ok.us/CSDnew/P2/2002Award.PDF), which appears to have ceased in 2002.
Oregon
No P2 awards. However, they do give Waste Reduction Awareness Program Awards to schools and individuals to encourage recycling, in partnership with the Association of Oregon Recyclers (see http://www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/wrap/wrap.html). Also has a page of links to recognition programs within Oregon as well as nationally (http://www.deq.state.or.us/wmc/solwaste/cwrc/orrec1.html). Most of these deal with recycling.
Pennsylvania
Name: Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence (1994-1995 -- Governor's Waste Minimizations Awards)
Started: 1996
Sponsored by: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection Office of Pollution Prevention and Compliance Assistance (applications go here but the governor's office gets top billing on the application).
WWW: Applications located on the Pennsylvania DEP web site. Search for "awards" in the search box on the main page to locate the current year's application. The 2001 award winners are at http://www.greenworks.tv/govawards2001/index.asp. For a list of winners, see http://www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/deputate/pollprev/gov-awards-redesign/default.htm. Latest awards appear to be from 2004.
Notes: In 2001, started Governor's Award for Sustainability. Award categories include resource protection, land use, energy efficiency, and education & outreach. Pennsylvania DEP also awards the Phoenix Awards for Brownfields Redevelopment.
Rhode Island
None
South Carolina
Name: Governor's Pollution Prevention Award
Started: 1991
Sponsored by: The Technical Advisory Committee for the Hazardous Waste Management Research Fund (within the University of South Carolina Institute for Public Service and Policy Research ) reviews entries, select finalists and recommends winners to the Office of the Governor.
Name: South Carolina Environmental Excellence Program (SCEEP)
Started: 1998
Sponsored by: SCEEP Advisory Committee made up of SC Department of Health and Environmental Control, Sierra Club, Woman League of Voters, Trade Associations, Chamber of Commerce and academia; oversight is with the University of South Carolina Institute for Public Service and Policy Research.
WWW: http://www.iopa.sc.edu
Notes: Membership is based on a 2 year renewal cycle.
South Dakota
None
Tennessee
Name: Environmental Conservation and Stewardship Awards (part of a larger program that has specific awards for Industrial Pollution Prevention and Governor's Award for Excellence in Hazardous Waste Management)
Started: 1997?
Sponsored by: Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
WWW: http://www.state.tn.us/environment/awards/02awds/criteria.htm
Texas
Name: Texas Environmental Excellence Awards
Started: 1993
Sponsored by: Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission. Presented on behalf of the Governor of Texas and the TNRCC Commissioners.
WWW: http://www.tnrcc.state.tx.us/exec/oppr/txawd/txawd.html
Utah
Name: Environmentalist of the Year
Started:
Sponsored by: Environmental Research and Education Foundation
WWW: http://www.erefdn.org/galanominationleadsht.htm
Notes: $50,000 cash award. Nominations are sought internationally. Both individuals and corporations are eligible.
Vermont
Name: Governor's Awards for Environmental Excellence in Pollution Prevention
Started: 1993
Sponsored by: Vermont Governor's Office (applications go here although the contact person is in the Vermont Agency for Natural Resources, Environmental Assistance Division)
WWW: http://www.anr.state.vt.us/dec/ead/eadhome/govaward.htm
Virginia
Name: Governor's Environmental Excellence Awards for Manufacturers
Started: 1995
Sponsored by: Supported by Virginia's Governor, Secretary of Natural Resources, and Department of Environmental Quality. Virginia Manufacturers Association (VMA) has facilitated the process and hosted presentation of the awards at the VMA Annual Meeting each fall. VMA's Environmental Outreach Group underwrites the costs of the program.
WWW: http://www.vmaoutreach.com/projects/project3.cfm
Washington
Name: Governor's Awards for Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Practice
Started: 1992
Sponsored by: Washington State Department of Ecology
WWW: http://www.ecy.wa.gov/sustainability/GovAward/gov_awards.htm
West Virginia
None
Wisconsin
Wisconsin has several awards, all of which relate to P2. All are on the web at http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/cea/awards/index.htm.
Name: Brogan Award
Description: Awarded to an outstanding organization, company or municipality that has aggressively and effectively managed activities to minimize or eliminate environmental pollution. The Department of Natural Resources presents this award every May at the Natural Resources Board meeting. Funding from the proceeds of a trust fund by former Natural Resources Board member John Brogan.
Name: Governor's Award for Excellence in Environmental Performance
Description: Recognizes achievements in environmental performance in Wisconsin, based on the following criteria Reduction of the degree and amount of waste toxicity, emissions and other environmental performance; Economic performance as measured by profits generated, costs reduced and payback periods; Transferability of the processes or techniques to similar applications for use by other industries, organizations or institutions; Commitment, by the applicant, to help other industries, organizations or institutions by sharing information and expertise. Sponsored by the Wisconsin Department of Commerce and the Federation of Environmental Technologists (http://www.fetinc.org/Governor's%20Award.htm). Appears to be administered by the Federation of Environmental Technologists and is presented at their annual Wisconsin meeting.
Name: Prevention/Environment/Prosperity Award
Description: The Prevention, Environment, and Prosperity (P/E/P) Award rewards successful businesses for innovative pollution prevention methods. Organizations may self-nominate by submitting an abstract of the successful pollution prevention activity. Once the abstract is accepted as demonstrating pollution prevention, the organization will be asked to complete a case study. The case study then becomes the basis for the selection of the P/E/P Award Winner.
Wyoming
None
