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Join NPEP
First, choose one or more of your facility processes that contain one or more Priority Chemicals and that has reduction potential. Work with your purchasing, operations, sales, environmental management, and maintenance departments to identify possible source reduction and/or recycling or recovery opportunities. You may develop goals that do not reduce Priority Chemicals but will still result in a significant environmental improvement. EPA encourages organizations to undertake projects that benefit the environment, but the purpose of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities is to reduce the use of Priority Chemicals because they can cause the most serious problems if released to the environment.Now you're ready to sign up. You have three options for enrolling.
- Use our online enrollment form to submit your application electronically.
- Download the enrollment form (PDF) (3 pp, 54K, About PDF), fill it out, and send it to us.
- Request an enrollment package. Fill out the form contained in the package and send it to us.
After you submit your application, you should hear from us within three weeks. If you don't hear from us by then, feel free to contact us. Once you are enrolled, we will send you a membership plaque like the one shown below and post your organization's name and goals on this website. At your request, we will also notify your local media that you have become an NPEP partner.
Defining your goals and completing your enrollment
form.
Choose one or more products or processes in your facility that contain
one or more Priority
Chemicals and that has reduction potential. Please note that NPEP project goals must be forward-looking i.e., projects completed before the enrollment application is submitted are ineligible for NPEP partnership.
If you are taking the NPEP
Mercury Challenge, please add this statement to your project description: We are taking the NPEP Mercury
Challenge.
For each process you identify, establish a source or recovery goal and a timeline for achieving that goal. Please note that many projects should be described as source reduction projects even though the material being source reduced will ultimately be recycled. Source reduction is a one-time event and recycling is a continuous material management strategy. For example, the early retirement of equipment containing priority chemicals, such as mercury-containing thermostats or lead-bearing pipes, is a source reduction activity (even though the mercury and lead will be recycled) because the replacement equipment does not contain mercury or lead.
Please note, too, that NPEP projects should describe what you plan to do at your facility. For example, if you plan to source reduce lead at your facility, the lead should be sent to an authorized recycler. However, since the recycling will be done by a third party, your project should be described as a source reduction project.
Contact us for assistance in describing your project.
You may identify as many goals as you choose. Some projects may take several years to complete, so you may wish to consider setting one or more measurable interim goals along the way to achieving a longer term goal. For example, if a proposed project will take three years to complete, you might consider setting annual goals. For a project of this type, each annual goal would be identified by a different number; the first annual goal would be Goal #1, the second would be Goal #2, and so on.
If you wish to set goals for more than one chemical, complete the goal information for your first chemical, then complete additional goals sections for additional chemicals using the same procedure.
Describe the project you are proposing to complete each goal. Explain how it will impact the process or product involved. Include a method for measuring your success. Use the example completed enrollment form (PDF) (1 pg, 46K, About PDF) as a guide.
View other partners' enrollment forms. If you have questions, visit the NPEP home or Waste Min FAQs page or contact us.
How do we qualify for awards and recognition?
Once EPA reviews and approves your enrollment application, you will receive a membership plaque like the one shown here. Whenever you achieve a goal, you may apply for an Achievement Award by describing how you achieved your goal and the results you were able to measure. If you have not yet reached a goal, but would like to share a Success Story that describes important progress you have made, complete a Success Story and send it to us. EPA posts all partners' accomplishments and success stories on this website, and at your request, we will provide information about your accomplishments to your local media. More information on partnership benefits.