At Grandview Cabinetry, we are committed to promoting sustainable practices. Reducing our environmental impact while protecting public health and the environment is one of our key priorities. We are pleased to announce that the US Environmental Protection Agency presented Grandview Cabinetry with a 2022 Region 7 Pollution Prevention Award for our efforts to improve our solvent and water conservation practices while reducing hazardous waste material produced through our finishing process.
Based on the principle that preventing pollution at the source is more effective and less costly than managing it after it has been created, the EPA P2 (Pollution Prevention) program is a voluntary program that encourages practices that reduce or eliminate waste at the source. EPA P2 promotes a holistic approach to pollution prevention, focusing on reducing or eliminating waste in all forms, including air emissions, water discharges, hazardous waste, and solid waste.
EPA’s Region 7 covers Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and nine Tribal Nations. EPA Region 7 Administrator Meg McCollister said: “Grandview Cabinetry’s voluntary steps to reduce solvent and water use have decreased pollution while saving this family-owned business money. We’re proud to recognize this exemplary work with the EPA Region 7 2022 Pollution Prevention Award. Job well done!”
Intern Averi Baker worked closely with the Grandview team to evaluate our distillation process and suggest recommendations that resulted in significant waste reduction and cost savings for our company. Solvents are used to clean spray guns and purge paint lines between color changes on our finish paint line. The distillation system was not functioning at peak efficiency, so Baker assessed the system and recommended a process tweak that will allow Grandview to recover up to 1,000 additional gallons of solvent per year while eliminating a portion of our hazardous waste disposal costs. The newly implemented solvent-recovery system is also estimated to save 1,400 gallons of water; 3.3 tons of volatile organic compounds; and over $15,000 per year.
On April 11th, 2023, Tim Price, Director of Kansas Operations, accepted the 2022 Region 7 Pollution Prevention Award on Grandview Cabinetry’s behalf. He said: “We are pleased to have partnered with K-State’s P2 Internship program, as it is their contributions, in conjunction with the Grandview team, that led to this award. Intern Averi Baker’s evaluation of the distillation system resulted in process changes that contributed to reduced waste and significant cost savings. As a company, we strive to provide a quality product supported by excellent customer service and on-time delivery. We are always working to improve our service levels, product offerings, and operational efficiencies. We are grateful to the EPA for recognizing our efforts.”
Preventing pollution at the source (also known as P2 or source reduction), rather than managing waste after it is produced, is an important part of advancing a sustainable economic and environmental infrastructure. The efforts of individuals, organizations, and businesses like Grandview Cabinetry help reduce the billions of pounds of annual pollution and billions of dollars spent controlling said pollution. By lessening exposure to toxic chemicals; conserving natural resources; and controlling waste management, disposal, and cleanup, we are ultimately promoting health and preserving natural resources and critical ecosystems.
David Saylor, President of Western Cabinets, the parent company of Grandview Cabinetry commended the team: “I want to extend a warm congratulations to the Grandview Cabinetry team for their receipt of the 2022 Pollution Prevention award. This is a wonderful achievement to add to the company’s legacy, and I look forward to seeing continued work on process improvements and achievements in pollution prevention via the K-State internship program and other initiatives.”
