Traditionally, regulations and policies for environmental protection originated at the state or federal level. While these regulations remain in place, there is an growing effort to promote improved environmental performance by business, industry and communities. At the same time, local communities are showing increased concern about "polluters" in their neighborhood. This community awareness of environmental issues has led to the development of local groups responding to perceived threats to the environment and public health. SHWEC provides educational support to communities to promote awareness of the environmental impacts of solid and hazardous waste. We work directly with local government, business, and citizen groups to provide accurate and balanced information that can lead to resolution of local conflict, and improvements in the environment and local economy. Some examples of recent work in this area include:

Storm water runoff carries pollutants from municipal, industrial, commercial and residential activities into our lakes and streams. This leads to degradation of water quality and threatens public health. Helping communities to understand these problems, and how they can be resolved through watershed based planning, can improve the local environment.

Public Operated Treatment Works (POTWs) receive and treat waste water from the entire community. Industry and business can discharge toxic pollutants to the POTW, impairing treatment capacity and contaminating local rivers and lakes. By systematically identifying potential sources of these discharges, and working directly with companies to eliminate them, POTWs can protect our community resources at lower cost.

Public health is threatened by the increasing amounts of ozone and fine particles in the air. Reacting to these pollutants after they have reached a regulatory threshold can be expensive. Pro-actively raising awareness about air pollution, while providing realistic source reduction options to businesses and residents, can lead to improvements in local air quality and public health.