"Partnering with Nebraska businesses and communities to promote pollution prevention through education, innovation and demonstration. - 2008 P3 mission statement
The University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s (UNL) Partners in Pollution Prevention (P3) program has helped both area college students and Nebraska businesses since 1997. P3 is an outreach assistance program operated by the University of Nebraska Extension and College of Engineering and funded by the USEPA Region VII, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and a wide variety of industrial partners.
Undergraduate student interns provide one-to-one Pollution Prevention assistance to Nebraska businesses by performing waste assessments or other waste reduction projects, and providing each client with a written report detailing waste minimization suggestions. Clients who have participated in this program over the years include dry cleaners and auto body shops, as well as large pharmaceutical and other large manufacturing plants. To meet clients’ needs, the P3 program offers three assistance modes varying in complexity.
The P3 program has made a difference to the bottom line of many Nebraska businesses. We have assisted a total of 475 clients during the summers of 1997 through 2008, while cooperating with a wide range of environmental and business assistance providers and partners. The program has worked in 65 different Nebraska communities ranging from Scottsbluff, to South Sioux City, to Omaha, helping Nebraska businesses save a potential $16.5 million dollars through waste reduction and divert over 188 million pounds of solid waste from landfills. Based on follow-up reassessments with 176 past clients, 40% of all recommendations made by the students were actually implemented.
Unique to this program, P3 also has
educational and outreach components. Over 178 interns have participated in the program since1997 and thousands have heard the message that “Pollution Prevention means Good Business.” Today, the program continues to help Nebraska businesses reduce waste and strive for sustainability.
New Interns Needed!
The Partners in Pollution Prevention program is always looking to fill paid summer internship positions. P3 offers Junior and Senior level engineering and science students the chance to apply their knowledge and skills to help reduce pollution for Nebraska businesses. Are you ready to find out more or how to apply for a summer internship?
See the “P3 Interns” page!
New Businesses Clients Needed!
The Partners in Pollution Prevention program is also in need of business partners (large and small) who are interested in having a P3 intern work at their business for a summer, helping with an environmental project that could save money, reduce waste, or involve other valuable pollution prevention assistance. Check out our "P3 Business Clients” page for more information.
