Recognition is an important part of the Federal Green Challenge (FGC). Awards were given in the categories of purchasing, water, transportation, waste, electronics and innovation in the Great Lakes region.

In Region 5, which serves Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Wisconsin, and 35 Tribes, the 2019 regional award winners are the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Department of Energy, Argonne National Lab. The award winners shared details about their diversion activities, and about their awards with EPA. Below are the stories they tell behind their accomplishments.

Purchasing

Department of Housing and Urban Development, Chicago, Ill.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development in Chicago had a seven percent decrease in the pounds of printer and copy paper purchased.

Water, Transportation, Waste, Electronics and Innovation

Department of Energy, Argonne National Lab, Lemont, Ill.

The Argonne National Lab had many achievements in 2018, including a:

• 16 percent increase in the amount of stormwater captured by converting 3.5 acres from turf grass to prairie grasses and improving measurement techniques
• 57 percent increase in miles not traveled due to teleworking
• 285 percent increase in municipal solid waste recycling
• 99 percent increase in EPEAT registered electronics purchased

The Argonne National Lab also received an innovation award for their "Disposal Days", which is a program to clean up storage areas and lab spaces which allow for improved uses of these areas.

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