Since 1997, B4B members have reduced or recycled more than 8 billion pounds and saved more than $500 million.

Would you like your business to save money, reduce waste and be recognized for protecting the Chesapeake Bay? If so, you should join Businesses for the Bay. Simply complete the online join form, or download the Join! Word doc., complete it and email it to Mary Lynn Wilhere at mwilhere@acb-online.org, or print the pdf file, fill it out and mail it to:

Mary Lynn Wilhere
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
6600 York Road, Suite 100
Baltimore, MD 21212
Join Businesses for the Bay

When becoming a member of the Businesses for the Bay program you can choose how your company will contribute to the program. You can choose to be a member, a partner, or a mentor or choose a combination of the three depending on your business. If you are ready to join now you can go directly to our online membership application.

Step 1: Choose your pollution prevention activity. The list below provides ideas of pollution prevention activities, or you can develop your own. You can commit to any number of activities each year.

Step 2: Fill out the online join form or print, fill out and mail the Commitment Worksheet . You also may attach a cover letter describing any past pollution prevention activities, your commitment(s), and any other information you would like to share. Send the completed worksheet and optional cover letter to the address at the bottom of the worksheet. You will receive an acknowledgment of membership. There is no cost to join.

Step 3: Annually tell us about your progress by filling out a simple online reporting form.

Step 4: Reconfirm and update your annual commitment(s) to Businesses for the Bay by renewing your Commitment Worksheet for another year.

As a member of Businesses for the Bay, you will develop your own annual pollution prevention goals, which may range from training your employees in pollution prevention to reducing the volume of chemicals used at your facility to acting as a mentor and providing technical assistance to other businesses. We recognize that all pollution prevention activities, no matter how large or small, will make a difference in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We hope that by working together our combined contributions will have positive impacts across the watershed. Annually, we will ask that you voluntarily report your pollution prevention activities so that we can demonstrate how Businesses for the Bay is progressing and give recognition to the members as a whole as to the contribution towards improving their local waters and the Chesapeake Bay.

By reporting their voluntary activities, members prove the accountability of the program and demonstrate our commitment to improving the Bay. Depending on the membership option you choose you may have other responsibilities.

As a Businesses for the Bay member, you will receive recognition for your pollution prevention efforts. Businesses for the Bay will issue periodic press releases that recognize the accomplishments and ongoing support of its participants. Each member also will receive individual recognition certificate acknowledging your commitment to prevent pollution. Trade associations, civic groups, chambers of commerce, environmental groups, and other organizations can become Partners of Businesses for the Bay! Although they typically do not have large facilities of their own (other than office space), these organizations represent businesses and others who do. The partner category will be for organizations that voluntarily pledge to promote Businesses for the Bay, pollution prevention, and/or recruit members.