National P2 Week

California's (and the nation's) first statewide Pollution Prevention Week (P2W) was held October 4-10, 1993, with proclamations and resolutions from Governor Pete Wilson and the Legislature. It has since been repeated yearly with great success and is now known as National Pollution Prevention Week (NP2W).

During the week, there are numerous P2 events sponsored by local government environmental and economic development programs, industry associations, and environmental groups. The events highlight the importance of P2 as a new way of doing business.

The goal of NP2W is to increase the pollution prevention awareness among both the public and business people. It aims to highlight P2's potential for protecting the environment while also improving economic competitiveness. NP2W has also had the secondary effect of increasing the level of P2 awareness and support among local government managers and elected officials such as mayors and city council and county board members. This has led to the continuance, expansion, and further development of local pollution prevention programs.

P2W was the brainchild of the California Consortium of Pollution Prevention Committees (C2P2C) comprised from the chairpersons of the voluntary local government pollution prevention committees in California. But the success of NP2W is ultimately due to the hard work of local government agencies, which implement the activities such as P2 workshops, "model" facility tours, storm drain stenciling, award programs, special training sessions, and resolutions and proclamations. In addition, numerous agencies sponsor the airing of NP2W videos on local access television, mail out P2 information to businesses and households, write P2 articles for local newspapers, and give presentations in local elementary and junior high schools.

The success of NP2W illustrates how establishing a network can allow agencies to leverage limited resources -- in this case making a positive change at the local level while also being a part of a statewide and national event. NP2W has helped P2 become part of the government-business culture in California and offers a focal point for P2 throughout the year.