2019 Federal Green Challenge Award Winners in the Northeast Region
Recognition was an important part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Awards were given in the categories of Electronics, Energy, Purchasing, Waste and Water in the Northeast region.
In Region 2, which serves New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight Tribal Nations, the 2019 regional award winners were Fort Buchanan Army Reserve; U.S. Army Reserve 99th Readiness Division; the Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Lab; the Department of Energy, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab; the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Caribbean Healthcare System; and three General Service Administration federal buildings located in New Jersey. The award winners shared details about their diversion activities, and about their awards with EPA. Below are the stories they told behind their accomplishments.
Waste, Energy and Water
Fort Buchanan Army Reserve, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico
Fort Buchanan Army Reserve recycled 5,219 tons of material out of landfills over the last two years. This included aggregate construction, wood and other, and non-building & building related material. They decreased their water usage by 42,961,965.70 gallons over the last two years. Finally, they decreased their energy usage by 26.54 percent over the last two years.
Waste
U.S. Army Reserve 99th Readiness Division, Army Reserve Fort Dix, N.J.
The U.S. Army Reserve 99th Readiness Division recycled and diverted 5,149.11 Tons of Materials from the landfill.
Waste and Electronics
Department of Energy, Brookhaven National Lab, Upton, N.Y.
The Brookhaven National Lab sent zero waste to the landfill in 2018, diverting 1,274 tons. The lab also recycled/reused 62.60 Tons of electronics in 2018.
Waste, Electronics, Energy, Purchasing and Water
Department of Energy, Princeton Plasma Physics Lab (PPPL), Princeton, N.J.
The PPPL had many achievements in 2018, including a:
- 53.74 percent decrease in paper purchasing from previous year
- 35.89 percent decrease of water usage over a two-year period
- 67.13 percent increase in electronics recycling over a two-year period
- 77.38 percent increase of construction and demolitions materials diversion from a landfill over a two-year period
- 26.87 percent decrease in energy usage over a two-year period
Waste, Electronics, Energy, Purchasing and Water
Department of Veterans Affairs, VA Caribbean Healthcare System, San Juan, Puerto Rico
The VA Caribbean Healthcare System is an umbrella organization providing VA healthcare throughout Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The VA Caribbean Healthcare System had many achievements in 2018, including:
- recycling 7,096,000.00 gallons of water
- reducing their energy consumption by 9.21 percent per year over a 3 years period
- donating 21 tons of electronics
- diverting 13.91 percent of their waste
Waste
General Services Administration, Peter W. Rodino Federal Building, Newark, N.J.
The Peter W. Rodino Federal Building recycled and diverted 62.48 tons in 2018 and also decreased the overall waste sent to a landfill by 22 percent over the previous year.
Waste
General Services Administration, 20 Washington Place, Newark, N.J.
20 Washington Place decreased the amount of waste going to a landfill by 31.3 tons, a 58.2 percent decrease from 2017.
Energy and Water
General Services Administration, Martin Luther King, Jr. Court House, Newark, N.J.
The Martin Luther King, Jr. Court House decreased energy usage by 42.63 percent over a four years period. The court house also decreased the amount of water usage by 204,139 gallons, 8.2 percent decrease over the previous year.