FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 13, 2004

greendifference.org contacts:

• Community Environmental Council, Sigrid Wright, 963-0583 x109
• Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District, Frances Gilliland, 961-8838 or Mary Byrd, 961-8833
• City of Carpinteria, Larry Driggers, 684-5405 Ext. 443
• City of Lompoc, Stacy Lawson, 875-8275
• City of Santa Barbara, Public Works, Water Conservation, Cathie Pare, 564-5593
• City of Santa Barbara, Public Works, Solid Waste Program, Karen Gumtow, 897-2542
• City of Santa Maria Utilities Department, Teresa Reyburn, 925-0951, ext. 7219
• Goleta Sanitary District, Teresa Kistner, 967-4519
• Santa Barbara County Water Agency, Darcy Aston, 568-3546
• Santa Barbara County, Resource Recovery & Waste Management Division, Alan Nakashima, 882-3616
• The Sustainability Project, Michael David, 966-3355
• SBCAG Traffic Solutions, Kent Epperson, 961-8917

Pollution Prevention Week 2004
It’s Time to Make a Green Difference: www.greendifference.org

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, CA – The greendifference.org coalition of county and city agencies and organizations today announced celebration of national Pollution Prevention Week from September 20 through September 26. This year, the group, led by Santa Barbara County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) and the Community Environmental Council (CEC), suggests the following ways you can make a green difference.

• Save the air—don’t top off your gas tank.
• Fall days are cooler—reduce irrigation.
• Take used motor oil to a certified collection center. Call 1-800-CLEANUP for the one nearest you.
• Carpool, ride the bus, bike, walk, or telecommute to work at least one day during Pollution Prevention Week.
• Take old paint and chemicals to a household hazardous waste collection facility. Never pour them down the drain or put them in the trash.
• Protect our creeks and ocean, clean up debris in the street, and don’t hose or dump waste into the gutters or storm drains.
• Recycle your green waste. Don’t let it get contaminated with dirt and plastic bags.
• Recycle at home and work: cardboard, all types of paper, newspaper, glass containers, plastic bottles (#1 and #2), metal cans, and foil. (Continued on next page)

The group of agencies and organizations is sponsoring an advertising campaign during Pollution Prevention Week, and promoting a website, www.greendifference.org, to provide information on how we can all make a green difference. Visitors to the website can submit pollution-fighting tips to win Pollution Prevention Week prizes.

Other fall events related to Pollution Prevention include:

• A channel relay swim will go from Santa Cruz Island to Leadbetter Beach on September 18; sponsored by the CEC in support of ocean water protection, see www.communityenvironmentalcouncil.org.

• Coastal Cleanup Day is September 18, see www.lessismore.org for info.

• Green Award winners will be announced Monday, September 20.

• Marian Medical Center in Santa Maria is hosting a workshop for medical staff on reducing mercury use and preventing pollution September 23, call (800) 700-5854 for info. The state Department of Toxic Substances Control is running the workshop.

• SBCAG Traffic Solutions is launching two new Clean Air Express bus routes in September, serving Lompoc, Santa Maria, Goleta and Santa Barbara, visit www.cleanairexpress.com for details.

• Walk to School Day is celebrated October 6, see www.sbcapcd.org/saferoutes.htm for info and links.

• Goleta Sanitary District will hold an Open House October 9, 10am-3pm, call 967-4519 for info.

For more information on pollution prevention at work and at home, see www.greendifference.org. 

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