For over 20 years, Illinois EPA has been placing 15 to 20 upper-level university students at facilities around the state to work on pollution prevention projects during the summer. Â The purpose of the student internship program is to help facilities reduce environmental impacts, improve efficiency and save money. Â The program is also designed to provide college students with practical work experience and the opportunity to make an environmental difference.
The benefits of your company’s participation include: reduced pollution, wastes and energy losses; cost savings related to materials, operations and disposal; technical assistance provided at a relatively modest cost; and a fresh perspective with a focus on process improvement. In 2010 and 2011, the program helped facilities save over $2.0 million in reduced operating and disposal costs.
For the upcoming year, the program will place emphasis on waste reduction projects and would be particularly interested in assisting facilities that have a zero waste/landfill initiative.