Hawai’i Federal Agencies Win EPA Green Awards

Kilauea Volcano, file photo by Wendy Osher.

By Wendy Ohser

Three agencies in Hawai’i were recognized with awards from the US Environmental Protection Agency as part of its Federal Green Challenge Program.

Award recipients included:

• The Honolulu Processing and Distribution Center for the US Postal Service: Leadership Award Winner.
• Hawai’i office for Housing and Urban Development: Innovation Award Winner.
• Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park: Honorable Mention for Education and Outreach Category.

EPA Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest, Jared Blumenfeld, said each agency was recognized for their outstanding leadership to reduce their environmental footprint.

In an EPA issued press release, Blumenfeld said, “By taking the initiative to reduce waste and conserve water and energy, these agencies will not only help motivate other federal agencies and organizations to follow suit, but save the government money as well.”

According the EPA, the USPS Honolulu achieved a more than 70% recycling rate, and notably reduced costs by as much as $65,000 as a result of a decrease in trash disposal.