Celebrate Earth Week with a litter pickup at your facility

Earth Day is Monday, April 22, and one of this year's initiatives is "The Great Global Cleanup." We are encouraging our industry partners to take part by hosting a litter pickup event at their facilities during Earth Week, April 22-26.

You can limit the event to your own property or expand it to an adjacent lot, field or riverbank. Cleaning litter from the ground, such as in your facility’s parking lots and storage areas, is one of the easiest ways to prevent escaped trash from making it to the oceans.  

Reducing litter in the environment, even in small amounts, can help prevent harm to wildlife and can further beautify America’s landscapes.

View our helpful litter pickup guide > 

Open burning

It’s open burning season in the Flint Hills. However, with this practice comes consideration of important health effects, safety practices, environmental impacts and burn restrictions.

In Kansas, the open burning of industrial wastes is generally prohibited. If you are an industry with a permit to open burn, please refer to the KDHE April Burning Restrictions FAQ. If you plan to burn, please check with your local authorities and familiarize yourself with the information available at ksfire.org before initiating any such activity. If you have questions about open burning, please contact your local law enforcement, fire authority, KDHE District Office in your area or the KDHE Bureau of Air Compliance and Enforcement Section at 785-296-6422.

Featured case study

Professional development hours are available for the upcoming Industrial Environmental Sustainability Practices course

PPI is offering CE690, Industrial Environmental Sustainability Practices, as an intersession class May 21-23 in Manhattan. Professional development hours are available for those who complete the course.

CE690 focuses on pollution prevention and sustainability practices in manufacturing and industrial facilities. It also includes an overview of environmental regulations and EPA tools. If you have questions or would like more details on this intersession opportunity, email Cris Kauer Brazil. 

Harmful algal blooms resources

Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, are dense growths of algae with the potential for creating toxins that cause a risk to human and animal health. Children and pets are most at risk while engaging in recreation in the water. Adults with compromised immune systems are also more susceptible to illness from exposure.

PPI has compiled a list of who to call if you come into contact with HABs, as well as a list of labs where you can send a water sample for testing. Find these resources, along with signage in English, Spanish or Vietnamese, on the HABs page on the PPI website. 

Online hazardous waste training

Hazardous waste handlers are required to complete training annually, and new employees must be trained within six months of taking a position that requires they handle hazardous waste. This training needs to be documented and maintained for at least three years. PPI offers online training that includes a certificate of completion for $50 per user. 

Enroll now >