Make a Big Change by Going Green
Lean and Green
By Staci Davidson   
Thursday, 15 March 2007
I was 13 when I first learned about the importance of a clean environment; it was April 1990 and the 20th anniversary of the first Earth Day, which had led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species acts. I knew recycling was important in eliminating waste, but it wasn’t hard for me to see more ways in which a poor environment could further impact my life.

I didn’t want my asthmatic sister to be in an environment with polluted air, and living in a small farm town, I knew that quality crops depended a lot on clean water. I wouldn’t say my town was an environmental pioneer, but around this time there was a push to initiate an extensive recycling program and the town board began restricting residents from burning trash and leaves.

Now that I’m older, I understand how these changes helped my town and can see how the manufacturing industry could make an enormous impact by being more green.

Cutting and working toward eliminating harmful emissions is a given – all manufacturers should be well on their way to doing this by now. Reducing energy use also is a no-brainer – it not only conserves resources but also reduces an operation’s costs. Industrywide, these changes could drastically improve the earth’s environment.

An easy change is to safely rid facilities of old electronic equipment and computers. Each computer contains an average of four to eight pounds of lead, which can contaminate groundwater and damage the nervous systems and kidneys in humans, according to the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition.

You may not have celebrated Earth Day this year, but there are still many things you can do to be more green. Visit the EPA’s Waste Wise Web site (www.epa.gov/wastewise/) to customize an environmental plan that meets your needs. Small changes throughout the industry can have big impacts.
 
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