U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator Donald S. Welsh this week honored the Southwestern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force with the President’s Volunteer Service Award in recognition of the group’s work to organize hazardous waste events in western Pennsylvania.

The Task Force is administered by the Pennsylvania Resources Council.

The all-volunteer task force was formed in 2002 to organize household hazardous waste collection events and to date has held 27 of these events in seven western Pennsylvania counties: Allegheny, Cambria, Lawrence, Butler, Beaver, Westmoreland, and Venango Counties. The task force has provided more than 14,000 residents a safe, responsible, and economically easy way to dispose of nearly 1.5 million pounds of hazardous materials that may have otherwise ended up polluting the environment.

James Degnan and Fred Fields, volunteer co-chairs of the Southwest Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force, accepted the award on behalf of the organization, whose work has been instrumental in reducing pollution in the western part of the state.

Degnan is director of environmental services for Hampton Township in Allegheny County. Fields is manager of industrial waste for ALCOSAN (Allegheny County Sanitary Authority.)

“It’s an honor to recognize the members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Household Hazardous Waste Task Force for answering President Bush’s call to serve a cause greater than themselves,” said EPA’s Welsh. “Dedicated volunteers like these are inspiring others to join them in delivering America a brighter, healthier future.”

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation. The award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50 or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have completed 200 or more hours.

For more information, visit the President's Volunteer Service Award website.

10/17/2008