A Newsletter from the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

What’s Inside . . .

P 2 V E W

P O L L U T I O N P R E V E N T I O N V I E W

VOLUME 8, ISSUE 4 FALL 2008

D E P O F F I C E O F P O L L U T I O N P R E V E N T I O N

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Dogs are our best friends, and their “poop,” justlike ours, can be a health risk and source ofpollution to our rivers, lakes and coastal watersif not properly managed. Bacteria (such as E. coli)and parasites found in dog waste can threaten publichealth and in marine areas it can contaminatecommercial shellfish beds. The nutrients in pet waste,notably nitrogen and phosphorus, make their way toponds, lakes and streams. This can encourage weed oralgae growth in the waterways, which may eventuallylead to lower oxygen levels. Insufficient oxygen canharm fish and other organisms that live in the water.

Surface run-off to waterways contains many pollutants but it may be surprising that dog waste hasbeen identified as a primary bacterial pollutant. Using genetic tracking, researchers determined thatalmost 20% of the bacteria in a Seattle area watershed could be matched with dogs. Other studiesconducted throughout the country indicate that non-human waste represents a significant source ofbacterial contamination in urbanized watersheds.

High bacteria and resulting beach closures due to pet waste and other non-point sourcesare a familiar problem. To help address this issue, a number of pollution prevention outreachprograms throughout thecountry have been developedto reach pet owners. TheConnecticut Department ofEnvironmental Protection(DEP) recently conductedsuch a program at one of thestate’s favorite swimmingponds at Chatfield HollowState Park in Killingworth.Water quality test resultsshowed that waste from dog

Give a Bark for aGive a Bark for aGive a Bark for aGive a Bark for aGive a Bark for aClean State ParkClean State ParkClean State ParkClean State ParkClean State Park

• Give a Bark for a Clean State Park• Keep On (Green) Truckin’• Recycling Roundup - Recycling is a Glass Act• Recycle CFLs at The Home Depot• Gray Matters• What’s New in P2?• Ask Eartha• P2 Calendar

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visitors was the primarypotential source of bacteria tothat state pond.

The CT River CoastalConservation District, a non-profit conservation organization,came to DEP’s assistance in 2007and conducted an education andoutreach campaign to parkvisitors called “Give a Bark.” Petwaste stations with bags anddisposal containers were placedin 5 park areas. Districtvolunteers talked to visitorsabout picking up after their pets,handed out “Doggie Bags” withbiscuit treats for dog visitors,hand sanitizers and educationalmaterial for their human friends.In addition, the campaigndistributed printed informationto veterinary offices and petstores. Their goal was to reducebacteria levels by 5 percent tomeet state standards for safeswimming.

How well did the campaignsucceed? DEP park staff

monitored the pet waste stationsand conducted surveys ofuncollected dog poop, findingthe waste bags and stationswere heavily used during theproject summer. Accounting foran increase in the number ofpark visitors with dogs from Julyto September, the amount ofuncollected dog wastedecreased. Health results werealso positive. DEP reported nobacteria exceedances at thepark’s pond and there were nobeach closures in 2007compared with 9 instances ofhigh bacteria and 4 days ofbeach closure in 2006.

The “Give a Bark” campaignwas funded by U.S. EPA CleanWater Action Section 319 fundsadministered by DEP. Futureplans include developing apublic service announcement.To see the campaign website goto www.conservect.org/ctrivercoastal and click on“Give a Bark.”

Give a Bark for aGive a Bark for aGive a Bark for aGive a Bark for aGive a Bark for aClean State ParkClean State ParkClean State ParkClean State ParkClean State Park

Picking up after your pet everysingle time is importantbecause it is a source of diseaseand an environmental risk.According to the U.S. EPA, 95%of fecal coliform found in urbanstormwater was of non-humanorigin. And just one gram ofdog waste contains 23 millionfecal coliform bacteria!

Follow these steps to be part ofthe solution to pet wastecontamination.

1. Always carry a plastic bagwith you when you walk yourdog. You can re-use old groceryor newspaper bags.

2. Using the bag like a glove,you pick up the waste, turn thebag inside out around thewaste, tie it in a knot anddispose of it in a trash can.Another option is to flush un-bagged pet waste down thetoilet.

3. Do not place the bagged orun-bagged pet waste in astorm drain or hose the petwaste towards storm drains —they drain directly to a stream,river, lake or other waterbody.

Have you stepped in dog poopone too many times at yourlocal park and want to dosomething about it? You canorganize a Pet Waste OutreachCampaign. The NewHampshire Department ofEnvironmental Services haspublished a manual to help youout, The Inside Scoop: How toConduct a Pet Waste OutreachCampaign -www.des.nh.gov

What Can I Do?What Can I Do?What Can I Do?What Can I Do?What Can I Do?

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Keep on (Green) Truckin’Keep on (Green) Truckin’Keep on (Green) Truckin’Keep on (Green) Truckin’Keep on (Green) Truckin’Trucks roll down the highway dayand night, bringing us food andnew products from around thestate and across the country. Iftruckers happen to pull into theAmerican Auto Stop in NorthStonington, they mightdiscover something new. Thisrest stop along I-95 has 116electrified spaces so that truckdrivers can turn off their engineswhile they are resting. Eliminatingtruck idling has many benefits,including improving air quality and saving fuel.

The new electrified spaces are outfittedwith CabAire service towers that enable atruck driver to bring in heat or cool air,cable TV and internet through a device thatmounts in the cab window. If a truck arrives atnight, sensors on the service tower turn on lowenergy LED lighting which also complies with lowprofile “dark sky” requirements. The towers evendetect whether the vehicles are complying withanti-idling regulations. American Auto Stop hadthese devices installed in part to comply with localzoning demands and state requirements.

The CabAire truck stop electrification technologywas the creation of a Connecticut company,Control Module. This Enfield-based manufacturerbuilt the first generation of the devices for theAmerican Auto Stop last year. Jim Bianco, Control

Module’s CEO, hopes to outfit truckstops nationwide with hiscompany’s product over the nextfew years. “Big rig drivers areunder tighter rules in recent years,including requirements to takemore frequent breaks and anti-idling regulations,” says Bianco,“These rules have increased theneed for technologies that allowtruckers to remain in their vehiclesand have access to heat, airconditioning and electricity without

running their engines.” The interest inelectrification is growing, and so is CabAire, whichrecently was awarded a contract for a truckelectrification project in North Carolina.

Mike Griffin, a truck driver for Heartland Express,loves the truck electrification service at theAmerican Auto Stop. “With fuel prices so high,and fleet management focused on fuelconservation and engine wear, I welcome havingthe comforts of home while saving fuel andkeeping the air cleaner. One thing I doappreciate is the quiet parking lot. With theengines off and CabAire’s air conditioner, it’s realquiet. Drivers need idle free quiet zones to get therest they need for safer driving.”

For more information on the CabAire Truck StopElectrification Technology, visitwww.CabAire.com

Did you know? DEP’s anti-idling regulations apply to every vehicle in Con-necticut, gasoline as well as diesel powered. Idling vehicles create emissionsthat contribute toward smog and ground level ozone, and produce carbondioxide (a greenhouse gas). Diesel exhaust even contains toxic air pollutants,including aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein), benzene, 1,3-butadiene, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The U.S. EPA esti-mates that nationally diesel engines are the third largest source of fine par-ticles, which can cause lung damage and aggravate respiratory conditionsincluding asthma and bronchitis. These emissions can have a direct effect onthe health of adults and children who inhale the exhaust.

To find out more about what you can do, click on DEP’s anti-idling programpage at www.ct.gov/dep/dieselreduction

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Recycling is a Glass Act:Recycling is a Glass Act:Recycling is a Glass Act:Recycling is a Glass Act:Recycling is a Glass Act:Everything You Wanted To KnowEverything You Wanted To KnowEverything You Wanted To KnowEverything You Wanted To KnowEverything You Wanted To Know

About Glass Recycling About Glass Recycling About Glass Recycling About Glass Recycling About Glass Recycling

You may not have as many glass food or beverage containers in your recycling bin as you have hadin the past. Many items that were once packaged in glass are now in plastic or have a deposit andare redeemed at the store. But glass, like cans, can be recycled indefinitely, so it’simportant to recycle those bottles and jars.

Glass can be any color, but most food or beverage containers are clear (also called flint), brown/amber orgreen. Once it is brought to a recycling facility, glass is prepared to market specifications. Depending onthe end use, the glass might be separated by color, contaminants are removed and the glass is crushed.The crushed glass is called cullet. Contaminates can be other types of glass like Pyrex and drinkingglasses, bottle tops and light bulbs or plastics, metals and paper. Bottle glass is different than otherkinds of glass. Even though they may look the same, they are chemically incompatible and havedifferent melting points. Brown or green glass cannot be used to make clear glass, so the better the glassis separated at the recycling facility, the more valuable it is to manufacturers.

Cullet is an important part of the mix for making new glass containers. Glass is made from sand, sodaash, limestone and cullet heated to about 2800 degrees F and then molded into shape. The use of culletsaves the manufacturer money because it is cheaper than the other materials and since it melts at a lowertemperature, using cullet saves energy and wear on the furnace. Using cullet is good for theenvironment too, because fewer virgin materials are used and less greenhouse gases areproduced.

The demand is greater than the supply for clear, high-quality cullet for new bottles. Most recycled flint(clear) and amber glass is used to make new containers, but bottle manufacturers compete for cullet withproducers of abrasives, bead manufacturing, fiberglass, frictionators (match tips), and more. Mixed colorcullet is used in other applications, such as fiberglass insulation, roadbed aggregate, safety reflectivebeads and decorative tile.

The bottle you recycletoday could become a

glass tile one day

Remember, your part in recycling doesn’t end at the curb. There are many beautiful and usefulproducts for your home made from the glass food and beverage containers you recycle. Just enter“recycled glass products” in your search engine on the web to get some inspiration on how you can“close the loop.”

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Glass Do and Don’t sGlass Do and Don’t sGlass Do and Don’t sGlass Do and Don’t sGlass Do and Don’t s❏ DO recycle or redeem all unbroken glass food and

beverage containers.❏ DO purchase items in clear glass when possible.❏ DO rinse and remove all caps, bottle tops and rings

(labels are ok).❏ DO NOT put any other kind of glass items in your bin

such as drinking glasses, mirrors, crystal, light bulbs,window glass, or heat-resistant ovenware like Pyrex.They are not produced in the same way and havedifferent melting temperatures.

Recycle CFLs Recycle CFLs Recycle CFLs Recycle CFLs Recycle CFLs at The Home Depot at The Home Depot at The Home Depot at The Home Depot at The Home DepotThe Home Depot, the world’s largest homeimprovement retailer, recently launched anational consumer compact fluorescentlight (CFL) bulb recycling program at alltheir retail locations. Customers can bring inany burned-out, unbroken CFL bulbs, andgive them to the store associate behind thereturns desk. An environmentalmanagement company will coordinate CFLpackaging, transportation and recycling tomaximize safety and ensure environmentalcompliance.

In addition to the CFL recycling program,The Home Depot has also launched an in-store energy conservation program toswitch its light fixture showrooms in U.S.stores from incandescent bulbs to CFLs byfall 2008, which should save $16 millionannually in energy costs.

For more information, visitwww.homedepot.com/ecooptions.

Glass FactsGlass FactsGlass FactsGlass FactsGlass Facts

Mining and transporting raw materials for glassproduces about 385 pounds of waste for every ton ofglass that is made. If recycled glass is substituted forhalf of the raw materials, the waste is cut by more than80%.

When a bottle is made from recycled materials, there is20% less air pollution and 50% less water pollutioncreated than if the bottle was made from raw materials.

Every ton of glass that is recycled results in a ton of rawmaterials saved to process new glass, including 1,300pounds of sand, 410 pounds of soda ash and 380pounds of limestone.

Gray MattersGray MattersGray MattersGray MattersGray MattersWhat is your idea of retirement? Writing your memoirs, traveling far and wide, pampering yourgrandchildren, golfing? How about forming a Green Council to promote conservation andenvironmental awareness?

That’s what Robert Lane and other like-minded residents did when they formed the Green Council atthe Whitney Center, a retirement community in Hamden. For their efforts, they were awarded a 2008 CTClimate Change Leadership Award. Their award was one of seven presented to Connecticut residentsand businesses to recognize innovative work in helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The residents at Whitney formed the Council to “undo” the harm they felt their generation unknowinglyinflicted on the environment. Armed with information about how they could change their ownbehavior and those around them, they are determined to “repair the damage” forgenerations to come. To this end, the Council created a website www.grayisgreen.org. Thewebsite provides information on all kinds of environmental issues and resources, such as “greentips”,recommended reading, films and videos and how others can get involved.

They have also written two excellent documents available on their website: a Handbook onConservation for Retirement Communities and Shades of Green. The Handbook is a comprehensiveresource for residents and managers of retirement communities on how to save energy, purchase“green”, recycle, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and much more. Shades of Green is a self-evaluation checklist for retirement communities that describes environmental policies and practices

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Governor M. Jodi Rell kicked off the Tri-State 5,000,000 MileRideshare Challenge in 2007 — a year-long event thatchallenged companies and commuters to carpool and reduce5,000,000 miles of driving in Connecticut, New York and NewJersey.

The Tri-State Challenge took place from April 1, 2007 to April 30, 2008 and the results are in. Connecti-cut commuters reduced their driving by 3.4 million miles. This is equal to having every major roadand highway throughout the state being completely empty of cars for 1 hour, preventing about 1,500tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In addition commuters also saved 153,000 gallons of gas, theequivalent of 17 tanker trucks worth over $600,000.

Area employers actively supported the challenge by “racing” against each other and promoting theevent to their employees. In July, Governor Rell presented awards to approximately 20 participatingcompanies and agencies for their high achievement. The CT DEP received an award for its a highparticipation rate. (See press release for all Connecticut winners and sponsors at www.ct.gov/governorrell/cwp/view.asp?A=3293&Q=420226).

Over 30 local and national sponsors also supported the events and provided $118,500 in rewards andprizes to participating commuters. NuRide, an online carpooling and ridesharing site was utilized forthe Tri-State Challenge. For more information, check out www.nuride.com.

CT CommutersCT CommutersCT CommutersCT CommutersCT CommutersRace to the FinishRace to the FinishRace to the FinishRace to the FinishRace to the Finish

Help with Home Energy CostsHelp with Home Energy CostsHelp with Home Energy CostsHelp with Home Energy CostsHelp with Home Energy CostsEnergy prices are climbing through the roof,with heating oil predicted to cost $5.00 pergallon this winter. There are ways to cut yourenergy costs, and, in Connecticut, there aresome new financing programs that will maketaking on an energy efficiency project easier.

If you’ve been thinking about replacingyour old furnace, now may be the perfecttime. Connecticut residents can take advantageof a rebate program to help replace old furnaceswith new energy efficient ones. Here’s how itworks: homeowners who buy EnergyStar-ratednatural gas furnaces or oil or propane furnacesthat are at least 84% efficient between July 1,2007 and July 1, 2017, can receive a rebate of upto $500, depending upon household income.Homes and apartment buildings with four unitsor less qualify. Call the Furnace Rebate Hotlineis 1-866-940-4676 or visit www.ct.gov/opm andclick on “Furnace Replacement RebateProgram”.

What’s

New

in P2?from the Connecticut DEP

There is also a loan program to help Connecticutresidents make other energy savingimprovements in their homes. The loans can beused for insulation, replacement windows,programmable thermostats, heat pumps andother improvements. Single family homeownerscan borrow up to $25,000; multi-family homescan borrow $2,000 per unit. The length of theloan is 10 years.Visit www.chif.org/owner_borrowers/index.shtml for more information.

And, that’s not all. Other state and federalprograms are available for a variety of energyimprovements, including home energy audits.Information can be found at the ConnecticutEnergy Efficiency Fund website,www.ctsavesenergy.org/ andwww.ct-energyinfo.com.

So, what are you waiting for…winter’s justaround the corner!

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Note: This feature offers answers to select environmental questions.Send your question to the editor's address -- judith.prill@ct.gov

and watch future issues for an answer.

Ask

Dear Eartha:

When I go to my sister’shouse, she always has thoseplug-in air fresheners which Ifind overpowering. Are thereany issues with these that Ican let her know about?(Maybe then she’ll stop usingthem!)

Steve G.,Bristol, CT

Air fresheners and otherfragranced products can emitdozens of different chemicals,many of which are consideredtoxic or hazardous. And eventhough manufacturers of per-fumes and personal care productsare required by federal law to listingredients on the label, thechemicals that make up thefragrances don’t have to be listed.

Over 80,000 different chemicalsare registered for use in the U.S.but data on the complete healthand environmental effects is onlyavailable for about 10% of thesechemicals. Traditional tests forthe safety of chemicals look forimmediate effects, not those thatemerge years after exposure. Andmost studies look for effects ofone chemical at a time, but in reallife, we are exposed to complexmixtures of chemicals.

Chemicals of concern that areoften found in syntheticfragrances include petroleum-derived VOCs (volatile organiccompounds), which make up thescent, and phthalates, which areadded to the formulas to extendthe fragrance. The University ofWashington recently analyzed theair surrounding six fragrancedproducts, including air fresheners,fabric softeners and laundrydetergents, for VOCs. Nearly 100

Eartha

VOCs were emitted from the sixproducts and none of the chemicalswere listed on the product label. Aplug-in air freshener testedcontained more than 20different VOCs, including somethat are considered hazardousair pollutants.

— Eartha— Eartha— Eartha— Eartha— Eartha

What Can You Do to AvoidUsing Air Fresheners?

• Don’t just cover up smell, findout the source and deal with it.For example, fix the moistureproblem that is causing that mildewsmell (mold can also be an asthmatrigger along with fragrances), bancigarette smoking in your home andclean that stinky litter box!• Clean your home regularly andget rid of clutter. This will help cutdown on offensive odors and allowbetter air flow.• Use baking soda in therefrigerator, garbage can or otherproblem areas to absorb odors.• Make your own potpourri withdried flowers and fruits or use driedused green tea leaves, which have along tradition of being used as adeodorizer.• Place a small bowl of vinegaron the kitchen counter or otherareas to absorb offensive smells.• Use zeolite, a natural mineral,to absorb odors and excessmoisture in the air. It can bepurchased in mesh bags that can beplaced in closets and other placeswhere the air gets stale.• Ventilate well. When the weathercooperates, open a window to getfresh air. Run vent fans in high-humidity areas like the bathroom orin the kitchen to get rid of cookingodors (unless they’re from freshbaked pies or cookies – I just lovethat smell!)

that retirement communitiesshould strive to put in placeand practice. They have alsoincorporated a neworganization, the NationalSenior Conservation Corps, toexpand their work.

But the Council hasachieved much more —they have caughtmanagement’s attention atthe Whitney Center. MikeRamberose, Vice President ofDevelopment, says that theCouncil has prompted them tobring conservation to the topof their minds. Even thoughthey have not been able toimplement everything theCouncil would like, they aremaking steady environmentalimprovements. For example,they have hired a consultant tohelp them improve theirrecycling, switched to compactfluorescents in common areas,replaced 447 windows withmore energy efficient models,and will replace two pieces ofHVAC equipment that will use1/4 of the natural gas andelectricity they are using now.

The age group that TomBrokaw named the “greatestgeneration” can teach us all athing or two about conserva-tion and that it’s never toolate to make a positiveimpact on the worldthrough our actions.

Seewww.climatechange.comfor all seven 2008 winners anda description of the awardsprogram or contact LynnStoddard at (860) 424-3236.

(continued from page 4)Gray MattersGray MattersGray MattersGray MattersGray Matters

A S e l e c t i o n O f E n v i r o n m e n t a l E v e n t s

P 2 C A L E N D A R

P2 View is published by the Connecticut Department ofEnvironmental Protection, Office of Pollution Prevention.Editor: Judy Prill; Contributors: Connie Mendolia,Nan Peckham, Mary Sherwin, Lynn Stoddard, Kim Trella.

The Department of Environmental Protection is an affirmative action/equalopportunity employer, providing programs and services in a fair andimpartial manner. In conformance with the Americans with Disabilities Act,DEP makes every effort to provide equally effective services for personswith disabilities. Individuals with disabilities needing auxiliary aids orservices, or for more information by voice or TTY/TDD, call (860) 424-3000.

For a free subscription, please contact Judy Prill at(860) 424-3694 or e-mail your request tojudith.prill@ct.gov. If you want to save paper andpostage by reading the P2 View electronically, you caneither subscribe to the listserv or view it on-line(see www.ct.gov/dep/p2).

Publication of this newsletter is funded by a grant fromthe U.S. EPA. The listing of websites in this publicationis provided as a public service and does not constitutean endorsement by DEP.

Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper using water-based ink.

Now Is The Time To Make Your Home More Energy Efficientwww.energystar.gov

Ways to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient – www.energystar.gov

October 4, 2008National Solar Tour

Various locations in ConnecticutHomes and commercial buildings throughout the statewill be open for the public to see firsthand solar technolo-gies (solar power, solar heating and hot-water,daylighting, and other green and renewabletechnologies). Visit sites of your choice, speak withhomeowners and experts, and learn how the technologyworks, what it costs, and why it makes sense. For moreinformation: www.solarconnecticut.org

October 10, 11 & 12, 2008OneThing Expo

CT Convention Center, HartfordThree-day expo featuring a variety of “OneThings” thatschools, businesses and residents can do to save energyand protect the environment. More than 250 exhibitorswill take part, featuring recreation, building technology,transportation, alternative energy, consumer products,and more. Visit the OneThing Palooza!, a 24,000 sq. ft.interactive area, designed by the CT Science Center andthe Stepping Stones Museum for Children. For moreinformation: www.onethingct.com

October 24, 2008Cleaning for Your Health

Mohegan Sun Convention Center, UncasvilleLearn about safer alternatives to cleaning products and developan action plan for implementing green cleaning in your build-ing. Co-sponsored by a variety of health and environmentalagencies and organizations, the conference is geared towardpublic health professionals, nurses, school faculty, custodians,and municipal officials. For more information:http://oehc.uchc.edu/images/PDFs/GreenableCT.pdf

November 13, 2008Statewide Smart Growth Conference

Omni Hotel, New HavenThe 2nd annual conference theme is “Tying it all To-gether: Transit, Jobs and Housing” with keynote

speaker Carol Coletta, CEO’s from Cities. Also featuredare information booths, workshops and networking

opportunities. For more information:www.1000Friends-ct.org

STATE OF CONNECTICUTDEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION79 Elm StreetHartford, CT 06106-5127www.ct.gov/depGina McCarthy, Commissioner