Five Iowa companies are working with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Pollution Prevention (P2) Intern Program this summer to cut waste, improve efficiency, and save money.
Upper-level engineering students are placed on-site at each business, where they dig into data, analyze systems, and recommend real-world solutions to reduce environmental impact. Their goal: eliminate waste at the source and help companies operate more sustainably.
The 2025 host companies are:
- Kemin Industries in Des Moines
- Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition in Eddyville
- Grinnell College in Grinnell
- JBS USA in Marshalltown
- JBS Swift Pork in Ottumwa
Backed by technical experts from the DNR, these interns are part of a proven program. Since 2001, the P2 Intern Program has helped more than 200 Iowa organizations save an estimated $122.5 million while reducing energy use, hazardous waste, and water consumption.
Some of the environmental wins include:
- Saving over 6.5 billion gallons of water
- Cutting 286,763 tons of waste
- Eliminating 518.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity use
The program is funded through a mix of federal grants, solid waste fees, and company cost shares. For more info or to follow project updates, visit www.iowap2interns.com.
