GreenScapes Alliance launched by the EPA

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently launched the GreenScapes Alliance. The new program seeks to unite government and industry resources in the reduction, reuse and recycling of waste materials in large land use applications including 4 million miles of roadside landscaping, land revitalization and the beautification and maintenance of parks, office complexes and golf courses.

GreenScapes participants fall into two categories. The first group is Partners, which are businesses and agencies that will attain actual pollution prevention results. The second group is Allies, supportive industry associations that advertise and promote GreenScapes philosophies.

Prospective participants include around 73,000 landscape contractors, landscape installers, landscape care and maintenance companies, 16,000 golf facilities, 11,000 organizations in the highway and street construction industry that work on 4 million miles of roads, and 3,066 counties that perform highway maintenance in 52 states, territories and the District of Columbia. The EPA believes that over 100,000 businesses are potential participants in the Alliance.

Functions of the Alliance include:

• Providing information about cost savings that can be realized from reducing material use and waste, resource conservation, and the performance and durability of environmentally preferred products such as recycled-content and biobased products.
• Educating land managers that environmentally favorable landscaping efforts create water and energy savings, conserve landfill space and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Publicizing success stories, case studies and technical assistance to help alleviate concerns regarding alternative practices and products.
• Promoting market expansion of recycled-content and biobased products.
• Awarding organizations that achieve environmental excellence in reuse, recycling reduction, and rebuying for pollution and waste prevention.