On Friday, April 24 at the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) Headquarters, Little Rock Wastewater (LRW) was bestowed the 2009 Environmental Stewardship Award (aka the Envy) for its Can the Grease® program.

The ADEQ honors the quality and innovation of environmental projects and program through the Arkansas Environmental Stewardship Award. The award showcases the work of residents, businesses, industries, farms and government offices or agencies that are protecting and enhancing the environment in extraordinary ways to demonstrate they deserve the “Envy” of Arkansas.

LRW began the Can the Grease® program in 2002 to reduce grease related sanitary sewer overflows in the city of Little Rock. In 2003, there were 34 grease related overflows in the city. Every year since then the city has experienced an average of 15 grease related overflows. Because of public education programs like Can the Grease® and stronger maintenance schedule, LRW has been successful in reducing grease related overflows in Little Rock by 50%.

In 2008, approximately 15,229 Can the Grease© starter kits were distributed across Little Rock. 2,100 starter kits were delivered or mailed to residential customers, 8,000 to 52 apartment complexes and mobile home parks, and approximately 4,100 at 13 various community events or tradeshows. An additional 1,029 kits were hung on doors of residences adjacent to grease related overflows.

Finalists for the “Envy” Award included Keep Jacksonville Beautiful Recycling Education Park, Molex Little Rock Connector Facility’s Environmental Management System, Systex Products Arkansas Company Environmental Management System, and The Woolsey Wet Prairie Project.

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