"Winter 2005 The Arlington Environment" Article List

• Regional Businesses Work to Reduce Contamination of the Bay
• Reducing Your Greenhouse Gas Contributions
• The Nature of Arlington on Black Squirrels
• Four Mile Run Watershed Cleanup
• Green Home Choice Program
• A Clean Solution for Dry Cleaning
• Science of Our Living Planet
• A Challenge for Arlington's Neighborhoods
• Wildlife Habitat Open House
• The Potomac River Watershed: An Interactive Forum
• Mark Your Calendars

The 2004 State of the Chesapeake Bay report released in November gave the Bay’s health a score of 27 out of 100. With such a dismal report, it is now more critical than ever that everyone within the Chesapeake Bay watershed do his or her part to help with restoration.

Addressing how one population in the watershed—businesses—can do their part is a program called Businesses for the Bay (B4B). B4B is a voluntary program created in 1996 by the Chesapeake Bay Program in which member companies commit to implementing pollution prevention in daily operations. The focus of the program is reducing the release of waste contaminants, addressing toxics chemicals and nutrients from both point source and nonpoint sources into the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.

The program emphasizes support for the companies in the watershed interested in improving their pollution prevention efforts. The B4B program offers an annual meeting, workshops, and a mentoring program.

With more than 600 members throughout the region, the collective efforts of the companies are impressive. Cost savings are an added bonus. “B4B members have reduced or recycled more than 7.8 billion pounds and saved more than $509 million,” said Mary Lynn Wilhere, the Businesses for the Bay Coordinator.

Each business addresses pollution specific to its industry. Areas that companies work on include energy efficiency, spill prevention and cleanup, waste and materials storage, vehicle fueling, vehicle maintenance and washing, pesticide use, and landscape installation and use.

If companies are looking for guidance, they can access the B4B mentor list. The list contains the names and contact information for all of the B4B members who are willing to share their expertise. Each contact lists the specific areas for which that company can offer help. A wide variety of topics are addressed, many quite specific such as pollution prevention in a printing facility or solvent disposal.

Here in Arlington, there are two companies taking part in the program: ERG, a consulting firm, and Custom Print, Inc.

ERG was recently awarded the 2004 Businesses for the Bay Environmental Excellence Award for Outstanding Achievement for Pollution Prevention, Small Facility. ERG, who received this award just two years after joining B4B, has an Arlington office staffing 47 people.

Part of the rationale for this initiative was ERG’s commitment to the local and global community, as well as an interest in practicing what they preach. “Part of ERG’s environmental consulting work is supporting voluntary compliance programs. We wanted to see what pollution prevention measures we could apply to our operations,” said Ronald Vance, a Senior Manager at ERG and the company’s B4B contact person.

To start, ERG formed a Green Team of volunteer staff interested in reducing pollution at their facility. They did an assessment of their operations and examined which Bay priorities lined up with their facility’s pollution.

ERG developed programs for recycling, energy efficiency, commuter benefits, environmentally friendly purchasing, office supply reuse, employee education, and charity donations.

ERG’s programs have been very successful. In 2003, the company recycled 6,197 pounds of materials, an increase in the amount of materials recycled in 2002 by more than 200%. ERG recycles a long list of materials, including the typical paper, glass, and plastic, but also computers, CDs and plastic bags.

Other ERG programs focus on changing staff practices to reduce waste.The commuter program encourages employees to take Metro, walk or bike to work, carpool, or telecommute. About 80% of employees take part in the program. ERG also maintains an office supply reuse area where items can be returned and stored for reuse. ERG staff participate in regular donation programs, collecting clothing, cell phones, and even paper for an area school.

“Another benefit of participating in the B4B program is networking,” continued Vance. “You can find out what other companies and organizations are doing.” Since all companies are in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, there’s a common focus among members.

Vance also shares advice for companies who are starting pollution prevention programs. “If a company is just getting started, the most important thing to do is form a team. Having a team really helps to get buy in and employee support.”

For more information about the Businesses for the Bay program visit www.chesapeakebay.net/b4bay.htm. To find out more about ERG’s activities, contact Ron Vance at 703-841-2154 or ronald.vance@erg.com.