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Harlem and Albany Non-Profits Receive $160K from EPA for Pollution Prevention Efforts

Release Date: 06/15/2000
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(#00119) New York, N.Y. – New York City-based West Harlem Environmental Action and Albany-based Healthy Schools Network have received grants from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) totaling over $160,000 for work to reduce common sources of pollution that may have negative health effects on adults and children. The grants are part of EPA’s Environmental Justice Through Pollution Prevention program, which supports efforts of low-income or minority communities to improve the quality of their local environment. Since the program began in 1997, EPA has awarded more than $400,000 in Environmental Justice Through Pollution Prevention grants to organizations in New York State. West Harlem Environmental Action, Inc. (WE ACT)     271 West 125th Street, New York City $80,000 Over the course of one year, West Harlem Environmental Action will build upon its previous work to increase public awareness of clean fuel alternatives to diesel-fuel buses; inform dry cleaners about proper ways to dispose of their waste; and develop a guide to educate local businesses and residents about pollution prevention in the brownfields redevelopment process. WE ACT will also develop and disseminate new information on "green" eco-friendly buildings and non-hazardous household products and technologies. The Healthy Schools Network, Inc. 96 South Swan Street, Albany $88,658 Through its two-year project "Children, Learning, and Poisons Don't Mix: Helping Schools Kick the Toxics Habit," the Healthy Schools Network will coordinate an effort to phase-out the use of toxic pesticides and hazardous custodial products in targeted low-income or minority schools, or in schools with high rates of asthma. Healthy Schools will establish three to five pilot schools in upstate New York that will phase-out or eliminate the use of these products. The organization will also build awareness among health care providers of school environment-related health problems in children and of less costly and healthier alternatives to commonly-used products.