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Welcome Welcome to the Zero Waste Alliance Technical Services program. What is the Technical Services program? ZWA is dedicated to identifying and helping implement sustainable operations in small businesses and industry. ZWA looks for opportunities to reduce costs associated with the use of toxic and hazardous materials, prevent waste in manufacturing operations, reduce the use of natural resources and/or reclaim resources for beneficial use. The Technical Services group at ZWA focuses on identifying the highest and best technical solutions that can save money while reducing environmental impacts due to manufacturing operations. We want to save you money in implementing higher levels of sustainability in your organization. The Portland Development Commission has earmarked funds to match expenses for organizations in Portland, Oregon to help them move toward sustainable practices and save money. top of page What technical sustainability problems can ZWA help?In every process we pay to bring materials into our business. Then, when we complete our work, we send some of these materials out as “wastes”. These “wastes” or resources, as ZWA prefers to think, are materials that originally entered our business with a positive value. i.e., we paid to bring them in. At the end of our work, we ended up with something that has a negative value. i.e., a “waste” or resource that we pay to have hauled away. ZWA’s approach to sustainability serves both Economic Sustainability and Environmental Sustainability.
ZWA focuses on reducing the costs between what was paid to bring resources into a facility and on what has to be paid to have discarded resources hauled away. e.g., charges for water used at a business (inflows) and charges for disposal of process water, possibly loaded with organics, down the sewer (outflows). What are some examples of ZWA Technical Services projects?
NOTE: These Technical Services projects were partially funded by the Portland Development Commission (PDC) Sustainable Business Assistance program to develop sustainable businesses. What is the PDC-ZWA Sustainable Business Assistance Program?Through a contractual agreement between the Portland Development Commission (PDC) and the Zero Waste Alliance, funds have been committed to provide an incentive program for businesses in Urban Renewal Areas to implement zero waste and sustainability strategies and to promote jobs creation and retention. The incentive will pay half of the cost, up to $7000, for innovative pilot projects that are developed from or incorporate zero waste strategies in business operations. Other goals include enhancing Portland's national reputation, capitalizing on new markets and new technology, and saving private businesses money while reducing the impact on the environment. The mission of PDC, to achieve a vital economy with healthy neighborhoods and quality jobs in Portland, is complemented by the Zero Waste Alliance’s efforts to develop environmentally sustainable solutions and successful local businesses. By providing these funds, the city promotes industrial innovation and encourages businesses to move toward environmentally sustainable practices. This program provides PDC the opportunity to showcase the practical application and benefits of sustainability. A company that participates in the program receives support from PDC (typically a 50% match which may include in-kind efforts) and is expected to work with ZWA to support and help document their project. PDC Sustainable Business Assistance program web site. For additional information see the PDC-ZWA SBA Program flyer.
top of page How can I get help from ZWA Technical Services? Contact us! Following a free telephone consultation, ZWA will visit your facility and evaluate your process, if needed. During this visit, the details of your process concerns and your sustainability goals can be defined more precisely. If we can assist you in improving your environmental footprint we will prepare a Statement of Work (SOW). The SOW will address your concerns about achieving sustainability objectives and will specify how ZWA will help.
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