U.S. EPA Press Release:

For Immediate Release: November 5, 2020
Media Contact: Alejandro Diaz, 808-541-2711, diaz.alejandro@epa.gov

EPA Announces $160,000 Grant to Nevada’s greenUP! to Support Green Manufacturing, Pollution Prevention

$1.16 million awarded for pollution source reduction nationwide

CARSON CITY - Today, on the 30^th anniversary of the Pollution Prevention Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the selection of 11 organizations across nine states to receive $1.16 million for pollution prevention efforts. In Nevada, greenUP!, a nonprofit organization, has been selected as one of these national grant winners. $160,000 in funding will support greenUP!’s environmental education project to help Nevada businesses cut environmental waste.

“When the groundbreaking Pollution Prevention Act was signed 30 years ago, EPA was given a simple charge: work to prevent pollution before it happens,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Assistant Administrator Alexandra Dapolito Dunn. “By providing our partners with essential tools, resources and information, we have taken a strategic approach that has yielded millions of dollars in savings and avoided the use of tens of thousands of pounds of hazardous chemicals. I’m looking forward to seeing the contributions of EPA’s 2020 source reduction grantees to our national pollution prevention effort.”

As part of this national program, Nevada’s greenUP! and partners will work with the Chemical Manufacturing, Processing and Formulation, and Metal Manufacturing and Fabrication sectors. The project will provide targeted virtual and in-person trainings and aid in the recovery of businesses through sustainable practices that incorporate source reduction techniques. greenUP! will also conduct follow-up with training participants to document the effectiveness of various pollution prevention practices.

“Private business can use innovative pollution prevention approaches to improve public health and protect the environment,” said EPA Regional Administrator John Busterud. “EPA is excited to support the work of Nevada’s greenUP! to advance sustainability innovation with business leaders.”

"The Nevada Division of Environmental Protection applauds greenUP! for their fantastic efforts to reduce pollution and promote a cleaner, healthier Nevada through this innovative project," said Daren Winkelman, Bureau Chief, NDEP Bureau of Sustainable Materials Management. "greenUP! has created a grassroots level approach to sustainability, and they have done a tremendous job partnering with local businesses to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, cut waste, save energy and water, and curb the growing impacts of climate change. Local sustainability solutions can add up to big improvements for our environment and maintain Nevada’s leadership in creating healthy, vibrant, climate-resilient communities.”

“greenUP! is grateful to EPA for providing funding to support the source reduction work in Nevada,” said Donna Walden President of the greenUP! Board. “This will benefit manufacturers and boost environmental performance in the state.”

Nationwide, the grants will fund innovative, cost-effective, replicable source reduction approaches enabling grant recipients and others to save energy and water, reduce pollution, and improve public health. EPA’s individual Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) grant awards range from $43,000 to $174,000 for a two-year funding period. For these grants, EPA prioritized funding for projects that support research, education, and/or training of innovative source reduction techniques. The grantees will document and share source reduction best practices that are identified and developed through these grants so that others can replicate these practices and outcomes.  

Since the inception of the program in 2003, EPA has awarded SRA grants to state, local, and tribal government entities; non-profits; and university partners to work directly with U.S. businesses to develop and implement source reduction techniques.

Read more about the Source Reduction Assistance (SRA) Grant Program.

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