Month: August 2025

As a national leader in environmental mitigation and water resource solutions, Resource Environmental Solutions (RES) is at the forefront of using nature-based approaches to restore and protect ecosystems. With sustainability rooted in its mission and vision, RES is making significant contributions to environmental stewardship and climate resilience, efforts that the Clean Air Partnership is proud to recognize.  

As a Leader Level participant in the 2024 St. Louis Green Business Challenge, RES implemented several impactful green infrastructure initiatives across the St. Louis area. In the Hyde Park neighborhood, the company supported the Be Well Café — a community-focused eco-artisan job incubator — by installing rain gardens, a permeable plaza space and an outdoor café terrace that combines environmental function with community amenities. At KIPP Triumph Academy, RES constructed rain gardens, green space, a nature play area and installed rain barrels to help foster environmental awareness and stewardship among students. Additionally, RES donated more than 250 native plants to local community organizations to enhance biodiversity and promote sustainable landscaping. 

“RES is proud that our mission of providing resiliency through restoration is benefiting the City of St. Louis,” said Tim Moritz, Regional Client Solutions Manger for RES. “RES green infrastructure projects for MSD prevent flooding and improve water quality, furthering our mission. Joining the Green Business Challenge has helped us better align with other community members who want to share our mission to increase resiliency in the metro area.” 

During the Challenge year, RES was also active in outreach and workforce development. The company participated in the Green Community Workforce Development partnership and contributed to climate education efforts by tabling at the Archdiocese of St. Louis Climate Symposium, the first event hosted by the Laudato Si Commission dedicated to creation care through climate action. 

Further demonstrating its commitment to sustainability, RES has taken significant steps to reduce its environmental footprint internally. By allowing most of its St. Louis employees to work from home, the company eliminated 39,000 commuting miles, saving approximately 1,480 gallons of fuel and preventing around 15 tons of carbon dioxide emissions from entering the atmosphere. Additionally, more than 80% of the construction materials used by RES are manufactured within a 50-mile radius of St. Louis, reducing transportation-related emissions and supporting the local economy. 

For more information about RES and how your organization can get involved in the Green Business Challenge, subscribe to their bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. For more on the link between sustainability and air quality, explore our website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @gatewaycleanair. 

Midwest Recycling Center (MRC) is a leading electronics recycling company serving businesses, schools, hospitals, government agencies and nonprofits across the region. With the most current R2v3 and RIOS certifications, MRC demonstrates a firm commitment to sustainable recycling practices, quality management and environmental responsibility, which helped earn them recognition in the 2024 St. Louis Green Business Challenge. 

As part of the Challenge, MRC highlighted its Champion Innovation Project: a series of E-Waste Collection Events designed to offer residents a convenient, responsible way to dispose of unwanted electronics. Staffed by trained professionals and equipped to manage everything from traffic flow to unloading vehicles, these events were held at various community locations, with 90 hosted in total — 68 in the Imperial/St. Louis area and 22 in the Kansas City region. During these events, MRC successfully collected and processed more than 1 million pounds of electronic waste, including 1,500 CRT televisions, 776 appliances containing freon and 2,028 printer units. By diverting this material from toxic landfills, the company helped reduce air pollution risks and supported healthier, more sustainable communities. 

“The opportunities we have to serve communities with convenient, affordable and responsible E-Waste recycling enhance MRC’s reputation as a trusted partner in regional environmental stewardship and sustainability efforts,” said Greg Cooksey, Sr. Director of Business Development & Compliance Officer of MRC. “We appreciate how Green Business Challenge connections help us maintain and grow our service capacity.” 

MRC offers comprehensive electronics recycling solutions that span everything from small devices like cell phones to large appliances such as refrigerators. Any item with a battery or power cord is eligible for recycling or repurposing through their services. In addition, MRC prioritizes data protection with advanced security protocols, including hard drive shredding and certified data destruction, helping clients and their customers avoid identity theft. 

These collection events also played a key role in public education. Through strong partnerships with local governments and organizations, MRC was able to demonstrate the environmental importance of proper electronics recycling while strengthening community relationships and promoting a shared vision for sustainability. This combination of outreach, environmental action and collaboration has solidified MRC’s standing as a valued partner in regional sustainability efforts. 

The Clean Air Partnership is proud to celebrate companies like Midwest Recycling Center that actively promote cleaner air by embracing meaningful sustainability practices. For more information on MRC and how your organization can get involved in the St. Louis Green Business Challenge, subscribe to the Challenge’s bi-monthly E-Newsletter or visit stlouisgreenchallenge.com. To learn more about the link between sustainability and air quality, explore the Clean Air Partnership’s website, like us on Facebook or follow us on X @gatewaycleanair. 

Citizens for Modern Transit and the St. Louis Regional Clean Air Partnership are heading into the home stretch of their summerlong “No Red Day” campaign. To date, more than 440 individuals have registered to receive a FREE Metro Adventure Day Pass to give transit a try, especially on really hot days, as rising temperatures and transportation-related emissions combine to create dangerous levels of ozone air pollution.

There have been no “Red” – or unhealthy – air quality days reported yet this summer, and with peak ozone season wrapping at the end of this month, our campaign will conclude then as well.

Help us finish strong by continuing to take MetroLink and MetroBus to get to school, work, appointments, sports and entertainment venues, and everywhere else you need to go. Forgoing a personal vehicle, even if it’s just occasionally, can make a big impact.

Learn more at www.NoRedDay.com. Free passes are available to new registrants through August 31.

Together, we can do our share for cleaner air and prevent a red day from happening.

Scientific evidence continues to reinforce what many communities are experiencing firsthand: climate change is making it increasingly difficult to protect public health. While these threats pose serious long-term concerns, their effects are already evident today. Rising global temperatures and unpredictable weather patterns are fueling higher levels of air pollution — particularly ozone air pollution — leading to more frequent and severe unhealthy air days.

According to the American Lung Association’s 2025 “State of the Air” report, more than 125 million people — about 37% of the U.S. population — were exposed to unhealthy levels of ozone pollution during the years 2021–2023. This worsening trend is largely fueled by climate-related conditions like extreme heat, droughts and wildfires. Together, these factors are not only driving up pollution levels but also making it harder for cities and states to reduce emissions and meet clean air goals.

Here in the St. Louis region, ozone pollution remains a persistent challenge. Several days this summer have been classified as “yellow” (moderate), which poses concerns for those with respiratory issues or heightened sensitivity to polluted air. The region has also experienced at least one “orange” day, when air quality is considered unhealthy for sensitive groups and potentially the general public. In recent years, wildfire smoke drifting from Canada and the West Coast has triggered some of the worst air quality events on record, impacting cities nationwide, including New York, Chicago and St. Louis.

While everyone is affected by poor air quality, certain groups are especially vulnerable. Children, older adults, people with asthma or other lung conditions, pregnant individuals, and those who work or exercise outdoors face a higher risk of serious health impacts. For these individuals in particular, it’s important to monitor daily air quality and take precautions when pollution levels are elevated.

To help keep residents informed and safe, the Clean Air Partnership issues daily, color-coded air quality forecasts during the summer months. These forecasts provide a clear snapshot of what the air will be like the next day and offer guidance on whether people should limit outdoor activity. With the ozone season in full swing, these updates are an essential resource for helping the public reduce exposure and minimize health risks.

Additionally, our “No Red Day” campaign with Citizens for Modern Transit is running through the end of August, encouraging individuals to ride MetroLink and MetroBus to get to school, work, appointments, sporting events, entertainment venues and everywhere else they need to go. The goal is to help reduce emissions and prevent a red air quality day from happening in the region. Area residents can still visit NoRedDay.com to register for a FREE Metro Adventure Day Pass (a $5 value), which provides unlimited rides on the transit system for a day of their choice.

For more information, visit CleanAir-StLouis.com, like us on Facebook or follow @gatewaycleanair on X.