Pollution Prevention Internship Program
| Organization(s) |
New Hampshire Dept. of Environmental Services
University of New Hampshire
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| Project Description |
The Pollution Prevention Internship (P2I) Program recently received recognition from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable and an Environmental Merit Award from EPA Region 1-NE. DES, in collaboration with The University of New Hampshire and EPA Region 1-NE, created the P2I Program in 1994. Through this program, the New Hampshire Pollution Prevention Program (NHPPP) has been able to work jointly with local businesses, academia, and government institutions to increase the level of awareness and acceptance of pollution prevention practices in New Hampshire. Not only do participating companies profit from reduced waste and cost savings, but students are provided the opportunity to learn and employ cutting edge pollution prevention strategies. The interns receive a 14-week training program at UNH, a stipend for the 10-week placement, intern support activities, and extensive UNH/DES intern oversight during the project period. P2I Program gains valuable insight into new pollution prevention technical practices that it can share with other companies. To date, nearly 100 students and 50 facilities have benefited from this program. The facilities have not only achieved significant environmental benefits but have also saved more than $3 million per year.
Another successful partnership between NHPPP and UNH produces the annual pollution prevention conference held at UNH's Durham campus each spring. The conference committee includes members representing the NH DES Small Business Assistance Program, Governor's Office of Energy and Community Assistance, NH Small Business Development Center, US EPA, and WasteCap ReCoN. This diverse group creates an exciting forum for ideas, increases the outreach audience, and shares the workload.
Many facilities have ideas to improve efficiency and reduce waste, but lack the resources to research and test those ideas. The P2 intern is a great resource to accomplish those goals. During summer 2006, five interns saved their sponsoring facilities a combined potential saving of $150,000 in energy costs, acetone recovery, metal dust recycling, and hazardous waste reductions. In 2006 the P2 Internship was awarded the Most Valuable Pollution Prevention Honorable Mention Award from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable. This is the second time this program has received recognition. |
| More Info |
www.des.nh.gov/nhppp/nh01006.htm |
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| Project Contact |
| Name |
Sara Johnson |
| Phone |
603-271-6460 |
| E-mail |
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| Project Keywords |
| Areas of P2 Expertise |
Environmental Management Systems |
| Activity Keywords |
Research and development |
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| Source |
| Newsletter |
Northeast Assistance & Pollution Prevention News - Vol. 16 No. 2, Fall 2006 [PDF] |
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