Vermont Business Magazine On Wednesday, the U.S. EPA recognized two individuals and one organization at Vermont’s 2022 Environmental Merit Awards ceremony. The awardee was one of his 20 awardees in New England who have been honored for their contributions to improving the environment of New England.
New England’s annual Environmental Merit Awards represent diverse approaches – community leaders, scientists, government officials, business leaders, schools and students – but share a common commitment to protecting the environment. given to people.
“The EPA recognizes the great achievements of Vermont’s award winners in fighting climate change, bringing clean air and water to the region, and ensuring that the voices of underserved communities are heard. We are proud to recognize and celebrate their continued efforts,” said the EPA New England Region. Admin David W. Cash. “Their ingenuity and dedication make a real difference to New England communities.”
The “Environmental Achievement Award” given to those who have already taken action is awarded in the individual category. business (including professional organizations); local, state or federal government; environment, community, academia, or non-profit organizations. Additionally, each year the EPA presents an individual with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Vermont’s 2022 Environmental Merit Award winners are:
lifetime achievement
Lynn Rubinstein
Northeast Recycling Council, Executive Director Brattleboro
After 40 years dedicated to resource conservation, Rinna Rubenstein will retire this year and leave behind a legacy of work that will have a lasting impact. For over 20 years, Lynn has been Executive Director of the Northeast Recycling Council, a non-profit organization focused on waste reduction, recycling, composting, and eco-friendly purchasing and reducing the toxicity of solid waste. I was serving
The Council won many awards as Lynn expanded her reach with more player participation and more than 100 projects. These projects are aimed at recycling electronics. Manage unwanted medications. Document the relationship between work and recycling and inspire initiatives to recycle newsprint.
Lynn is a trusted voice for the private recycling industry and government, fostering an environment where industry and government can discuss common problems and find solutions. She co-founded many programs including the State Electronics Challenge, Electronics Recycling Coordination Clearinghouse, and Government Recycling Demand Champions. All of her related presentations, reports and articles are available on the Council’s website.
As an example of Lynn’s commitment to keeping the Council dynamic in a changing economy and waste stream, she helped form a partnership between the Council and the Northeast Waste Management Bureaucratic Association in 2017. .
Lynn is best known for her leadership of the Northeast Recycling Council, but has also served as Northampton’s solid waste manager. He is Holyoke’s Conservation Director. He is the Director of the Mercury and Electronics Recycling Program at the University of Massachusetts. Professor of Land Use Management. Resource planner, and attorney at the U.S. Department of Justice.
Throughout her career, Lynn has pioneered innovative programs, built connections, and raised the level of regional cooperation across the Northeast. Her work with Lynn had a lasting impact.
government
Kesha Lam-Hinsdale
Montpelier State Senator
Senator Kesha Lam Hinsdale has been promoting environmental justice for more than a decade. Kesha wrote a bill that linked economic and racial justice to environmental justice in 2007 and worked on its introduction as her senior year in college. In 2009, Kesha became the nation’s youngest state legislator and the first person of color to be elected to Burlington’s legislature. After serving as an MP, Kesha has brought together academics, activists, nonprofit leaders, and community partners to try to answer the question, “What is environmental justice in Vermont?” Led engagement efforts. And she bases her policies on the testimonies of those who have been systematically excluded from the mainstream environmental movement.
Since 2019, Kesha and her partners, who have been involved in the rural EJ Project, have held conversations in overburdened and underserved communities. As facilitator, Kesha asked participants about their quality of life and how they hoped the state would respond to the environmental and health crisis. Hold virtual conversations and leverage established relationships with Bhutanese Nepalese, Somali Bantu, migrant farm workers, elderly, rural, deaf/hard of hearing, disabled, mobile home community members. did. This has led to Vermont’s first EJ policy passed this year and her network of community liaisons that serve as a model for community engagement.
work
GlobalFoundries, Essex
The GlobalFoundries Vermont factory, known as FAB9, manufactures semiconductor chips for the global telecommunications and consumer electronics markets. Making semiconductors requires energy, water, chemicals, and gases. The company’s global environmental health and safety policy focuses on reducing energy, water use, chemical use and waste. When evaluating resource conservation projects, FAB9 uses the principle of waste management hierarchy, with source reduction as a priority approach. Projects that reduce the use of chemicals and harmless alternatives or find opportunities for reuse save costs and improve operations.
The FAB9 photolithography team, responsible for a critical process in semiconductor manufacturing, implemented four projects to reduce solvent usage by 70,468 liters, saving $652,354 annually while reducing chemical handling and shipping waste. reduced. The team set a “Best in Class” standard for photochemical applications and the Vermont site was recognized by several tool suppliers for reducing solvent use without impacting process requirements . GlobalFoundries coordinates annual workshops to share information and projects with photolithography teams around the world. Last year, three plants pledged to implement solvent reductions after project details were shared.
Ira Leighton “In Service to States” Annual Award
Each year, one New Englander receives Ira Leighton’s “In Service to States” environmental merit award. This is a tribute to his longtime colleague and friend, Ira Leighton, who passed away in 2013 after his 41 years with the US EPA. Ira’s dedication and passion for environmental protection was evident to all who knew him. He was a constant presence in New England, taking ideas and creating actionable tasks that resulted in measurable improvements.
Today, the 2022 award was presented to Melanie Roy Jim of Maine.
Melanie Roy Jim
Maine Department of Environmental Protection
Melanie Loyzim, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, has been a leader in promoting environmental protection and maintaining a viable economy for the past two decades.
For more information on EPA’s Environmental Merit Award, including a video of today’s award ceremony, see EPA New England Environmental Merit Award.
Boston (October 12, 2022) – EPA Region 1: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-1-new-england
