Posted
For Immediate Release: Monday, March 08, 2010
EcoBiz Certification Awarded to Washington County Fleet Services
The Pollution Prevention Outreach Team (P2O) recently awarded Washington County's Fleet Services Division with the EcoBiz Certification for Automotive Services. To become certified, Washington County adopted a rigorous checklist of up to 100 different best management practices to keep pollutants out of the air, water and soil.
Included in this certification are the following practices: Extensive recycling, using non-toxic substitutions that prevent emissions from going airborne, preventing spills from entering groundwater, lowering the use of energy, water and natural resources, replacing a solvent-based parts washer with a water-based one, safely disposing of expired toxic materials and implementing a purchasing policy to look for non-toxic products whenever possible.
"Washington County is committed to minimizing the environmental impact of all our operations and saving taxpayer dollars in the process. We are grateful to P2O for recognizing this part of an organization-wide effort at becoming more sustainable," said Assistant County Administrator Don Bohn.
The EcoBiz Certification program is a collaborative effort of the Cities of Portland and Gresham, Metro, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Washington County, Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center and Clackamas County with funding from Clean Water Services for businesses and organizations in Washington County.
The Fleet Services Division of Washington County's Department of Support Services procures and maintains a fleet of over 500 safe, dependable, cost-effective vehicles and equipment that enable county departments to provide excellent services to the citizens of Washington County.
PHOTO: Washington County Fleet Services Division employee Henry Gabbey washes vehicle parts in a water-based solution to eliminate emissions into the air.
Contact:
Jonathan Stumpf, Communications Manager,
Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
(206) 352-2050
[email protected]
Media Contact:
Philip Bransford, Communications Officer, Washington County Administrative Office(503) 846-8685
[email protected]