Educating Green Industry Professionals Environmentally-Responsible Practices

Urban stormwater runoff carries excess nutrients and chemicals from landscapes to storm drains which are usually piped directly to waterbodies. The careful application of chemicals is critical to protecting the quality of surface waters. The Clean Streams program is a partnership between the City of Winston Salem and NC Cooperative Extension, Forsyth County Center to train and certify green industry professionals on water quality issues as well as create an awareness of the importance of protecting our water resources from pesticide and nutrient contamination. Since 2007 126 participants acquired pesticide credits used toward certification renewal and 92% passed a certification exam. Eighty percent of participants indicated an awareness of how their business impacts the environment and how they will use this certification to reinforce their environmentally-friendly business efforts. By offering more green methods/ practices rather than wait for a demand for it these businesses can have the potential to gain a few steps ahead of the competition.