Businesses Urged To Be Ecology-Minded Fledgling Green Star Program Pushes Prevention Of Pollution

A Spokane industry association wants more businesses to receive recognition for environmental good deeds.

The fledgling effort is called the Green Star program. Its supporters insist it’s not phony “greenwashing.”

“The state will be watching us; we can’t afford to compromise the integrity of this program,” said Mike Murphy, president of Associated Industries of the Inland Northwest.

The 450-member labor and industrial relations group has received a $35,000 grant from the state Department of Ecology to help launch the program.

“The state wants to encourage Spokane businesses to get involved in innovative pollution-prevention projects,” said Camille Frensdorf of the Ecology Department’s toxics reduction office.

The Green Star program was founded by businesses and state environmental agencies in Alaska in 1990 following the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

Participating businesses get the chance to meet informally with environmental regulators to discuss their pollution and waste problems.

To win Green Star recognition, companies must conduct an annual waste-reduction assessment, train employees, notify customers of the program and help at least one other business get involved.

In addition, participants must complete six of 12 “voluntary” standards, including several more energy conservation and waste-reduction initiatives.

Eight Spokane companies and agencies have signed up, and more than a dozen others have requested more information, Murphy said.

Additional information on the Green Star program will be available at Wednesday’s Pollution Prevention Expo at the Agricultural Trade and Convention centers.

The event is a daylong seminar on hazardous waste management, recycling and pollution-reduction issues. It is being sponsored by Associated Industries and the Department of Ecology.