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The RPA has been actively involved
in the EPA,s Resource Conservation Challenge (RCC). The Resource
Conservation Challenge is a major national effort to find flexible,
yet more protective ways to conserve our valuable resources through
waste reduction and energy recovery activities that will improve
public health and the environment.
Today the RCC is expanding across
programs - waste, water, air, toxics, pollution prevention, pesticides,
and compliance - and also includes activities in the Regions,
States, and Tribes. The RCC identifies areas of program focus,
or "challenges" that are ready for voluntary partnerships.
Timonie Hood, EPA,
Region 9, Environmental
ProtectionSpecialist, Solid Waste and
Douglas Carlson, RPAExecutive Director, share
a light moment after a recent meeting.
Each of these challenges works to resolve national environmental
problems by finding environmentally acceptable solutions.
The RCC challenges all Americans - makers of goods, sellers of
goods, and buyers of goods to:
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- Prevent pollution and promote recycling and reuse;
- Reduce priority chemicals at all life cycle stages; and
- Conserve energy and materials.
The Resource Conservation Challenge is about:
- Adopting a resource conservation ethic;
- Operating more efficiently;
- Purchasing more wisely; and
- Making and using products that are easy to recycle and consist
of recycled materials.
EPA cannot achieve resource conservation goals on its own
or regulate them into place. For those willing to accept the
Resource Conservation Challenge, EPA commits at the highest level
to mobilize its institutional resources to bring sustained and
focused attention and responsive decision- making to achieving
RCC goals. We will work with partners to create incentives that
reward businesses and communities that meet program goals.
The transformation to a new way
of thinking about wastes and materials is a joint effort between
EPA, businesses and communities. Through a voluntary commitment
to achieve RCC goals, we can improve public health and the environment.
Tires have been identified as a
challenge area. Through the use of asphalt-rubber paving materials,
pavement design engineers in cities, counties and states can
be confident in specifying a high quality, cost effective, safe
durable and quiet paving material that contributes to the RCC
goals.
For more information:
http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/conserve/index.htm
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