E arlier this year, Ecology joined forces with local agencies to visit over a hundred businesses near Everett. The Snohomish County Health Department, local fire departments, sewer departments, Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency, and Snohomish County airport coordinated with Ecology to meet with business people. Businesses told Ecology they were glad they participated. Surveys were left at each business visited. 93 percent of the responses gave Ecology high marks for technical assistance, and 96 percent said they felt more comfortable working with Ecology since the visit.
Ecology also provides technical assistance visits upon request.
A business can benefit by carefully tracking total costs of using or generating hazardous substances and the net benefits resulting from reducing these costs through pollution prevention. Software demonstrated in the workshop helps firms identify costs and benefits and determines when implementing pollution prevention strategies makes economic sense. Ecology Director Tom Fitzsimmons announced the winners of the 1997 Governor's Award for Outstanding Achievement in Pollution Prevention, September 15th at the Capitol. Governor Locke congratulated the winners for going beyond best available control technologies and seeking innovative ways to reduce pollution at the source. An honorable mention also went to Broadway Dental Center of Seattle, for minimizing hazardous waste entering the environment, researching developing equipment, and sharing knowledge throughout the industry.