New York State Pollution Prevention Institute Awarded Grant for Environmental Efforts

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New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology has been awarded an Environmental Protection Agency grant

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute at Rochester Institute of Technology has been awarded an Environmental Protection Agency grant to work with manufacturers in the Buffalo area in lowering environmental impact.

The institute was awarded a Source Reduction Assistance Grant, which totals $130,000 and will be used to lend assistance to businesses in the town of Tonawanda in environmental assessments. The assessments will be utilized to reduce energy, environmental impact and help companies cut costs.

“This is an important day for the Tonawanda community,” says Judith Enck, the agency’s regional administrator. “EPA is investing in this community by working with the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute to implement solutions to the pollution problems affecting the people of Tonawanda.”

“It is our mission to make New York more sustainable for workers, the environment, and the economy, and we do so by partnering directly with businesses,” says Anahita Williamson, director of the New York State Pollution Prevention Institute. “We will use this funding to help companies reduce their footprint, which makes them more competitive, saves them money, and keeps them in New York.”

The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute is a partnership between RIT, Clarkson University, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and the University at Buffalo and is funded by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. The institute works to make New York more sustainable by assisting companies in reducing toxic chemical use, solid and hazardous waste generation and overall emissions to the environment. It also encourages industry to efficiently and effectively utilize raw materials, energy, and water.

“The town of Tonawanda and its residents got a big win for the environment,” said Abby Snyder, regional director for the state Department of Environmental Conservation. “The New York State Pollution Prevention Institute received an EPA grant that will help Tonawanda’s economy adapt and thrive in a new era focused on sustainability. This is welcome news for the community. By partnering with local businesses, NYSP2I’s work will not only be good for the environment, it will be a boost to companies as well.”