Ecova Joins U.S. Zero Waste Business Council as a Founding Member

SPOKANE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

Ecova, the total energy and sustainability management company, today announced it has become a founding member of the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council, a nonprofit that is dedicated to educating, informing and documenting the performance of Zero Waste Businesses. As a founding member, Ecova will support U.S. Zero Waste Business Council's training, events and educational resources to assist organizations in meeting their Zero Waste goals.

“A Zero Waste model presents a tremendous financial and environmental savings opportunity for organizations, but the journey to get there can be challenging,” said Erik Makinson, director, waste management solutions, Ecova. “We're excited to be a founding member of U.S. Zero Waste Business Council to leverage even more resources in helping our clients create value and save money through Zero Waste practices, no matter where they are on their journey.”

Waste management has long been viewed as a necessary expense that has commanded little attention next to larger operational expenses. Over the past few years, changes within the waste industry have created significant opportunity to drive financial and environmental savings and many forward-thinking companies are aggressively moving toward a Zero Waste model.

“Ecova joins leading sustainability-minded companies that support a Zero Waste standard,” said Stephanie Barger, Founder and Executive Director, U.S. Zero Waste Business Council. “Zero Waste businesses save money, are more efficient, manage risk, reduce litter and pollution, cut greenhouse gases, reinvest resources locally, and create jobs and more value for their business and the community – ultimately helping communities become more healthy and sustainable.”

Managing the waste stream of a multi-site portfolio has become increasingly complex and time intensive. Ecova's Waste Management Solutions offer a new approach to managing waste services that keeps pace with changing industry and societal expectations, while effectively cutting costs and reducing environmental impact.

About Ecova

Ecova is the total energy and sustainability management company whose sole purpose is to see more, save more, and sustain more for its clients. Using insights based on consumption, cost and carbon footprint data spanning thousands of utilities, hundreds of thousands of business sites and millions of households, Ecova provides fully managed, technology-optimized solutions for saving resources, which in turn increase returns, lower risks, and enhance reputations. Ecova is the largest non-regulated subsidiary of Avista Corp AVA, avistacorp.com. For more information, visit the company's website at ecova.com, on LinkedIn at linkd.in/EcovaInc, or follow Ecova on Twitter at @ecovainc.

About the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC)

Launched in spring of 2012 and headquartered in Corona Del Mar, CA, the USZWBC's mission is to educate, inform and document the performance of Zero Waste Businesses using scientific methods to help businesses and communities become more healthy and sustainable. USZWBC offers the only national Zero Waste Standards focused on upstream policies and processes, Zero Waste training through webinars and workshops and is the leader in creating a solid foundation that advances the integrity and credibility of Zero Waste. Their 3^rd Annual National Zero Waste Business Conference is in Atlanta, GA on May 7^th and 8^th, 2014. For more information, visit the company's website at www.uszwbc.org.

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