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Inland Empire Businesses Earn State Environmental Awards: 13th
annual Waste Reduction Awards Program honors 141 local companies
SACRAMENTO—For outstanding commitment to environmental protection, 141
businesses and nonprofit organizations in Riverside and San Bernardino
counties are being honored by the state's 2005 Waste
Reduction Awards Program (WRAP). The annual awards are sponsored by
the California Integrated Waste Management Board to recognize
environmentally friendly business practices that include recycling,
conservation, waste reduction, materials diversion and reuse, and more.
Local winners include Fender Musical Instruments, Southern California
Edison, Mercedes Benz-USA, Safeway, Inc., and others. Cumulatively, this
year's WRAP honorees have diverted nearly 1.8 million tons of materials
from California landfills through excellent resource management and
recycling. In addition, their waste reduction efforts have saved well
over $149 million in operating costs.
"Stewardship of the environment is a commitment that affects every
Californian and we are more than pleased to honor these dedicated
businesses for all they are doing to reduce the waste they create in the
course of providing jobs, goods, and services," Board Chair Rosario
Marin said. "We congratulate and thank them for every ton of material
recycled, every surplus item donated, and every creative solution they
have put to work to reduce what they send to our crowded landfills.
Their environmental leadership is an inspiration to companies
statewide."
More than half of the waste generated in California comes from the
business sector. The voluntary efforts of businesses and nonprofits to
prevent waste and reduce disposal is key to helping cities and counties
meet mandated waste diversion goals. Statewide, 1,870 WRAP Awards will
be made this year. Since the program's inception in 1993, over 13,870
WRAP awards have been made, with many companies winning the award for
multiple years.
Detailed information about
all WRAP winners in Riverside and San Bernardino counties,
as well as statewide, is available online from the Board.
Now in its 13th year, the Waste Reduction Awards Program is open to
private industry and nonprofit organizations throughout California and
provides recognition for exemplary and model business practices to
prevent and reduce waste, recycle, reuse materials, and send less to
landfills. Companies of all sizes and from every industry are encouraged
to enter the annual competition.
Fender Musical Instruments Corporation (Corona, Riverside County)
Fender Musical Instruments Corp., located in Corona, California,
manufactures world-class electric guitars, bass guitars, and amplifiers.
Fender's commitment to waste reduction begins with employee education
and awareness. In addition, they continuously test new technologies and
evaluate their manufacturing process. This ongoing program has allowed
Fender to optimize the use of raw materials as well as considerably
reduce the amount of wood waste and wood processing products waste
produced. Every Fender guitar, bass and amplifier is a first-rate
product which is shipped in packaging made from 33 to 66 percent
recycled material. Since 1993, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
has diverted thousands of tons of material from disposal in landfills
and has seen tens of thousands of dollars in cost savings through waste
reduction and recycling efforts. In addition, Fender earned distinction
as a 'WRAP of the Year' honoree in 2001.
Southern California Edison (throughout the region)
Today's Southern California Edison is the product of more than a
century of providing reliable electric service to some of the most
dynamic areas of Central and Southern California. As a part of SCE's
commitment to environmental protection, the electric power SCE provides
for customers includes more alternate and renewable energy from a
greater variety of resources than nearly any other utility in the world.
SCE has been active in efforts to improve Southern California air
quality since the 1940's. In 1993, Edison initiated its "Waste-Not"
recycling program that focuses on waste prevention, green purchasing,
reuse, and recycling. SCE recycles paper, cardboard, compost material,
glass, plastic, metal and wood. In 2004, SCE generated 44,700 tons of
waste material, and over 80% of these were recycled. SCE saved $6.5
million in solid waste hauling fees at 79 California facilities by
recycling. SCE is one of the largest electric utilities in the United
States and the largest subsidiary of Edison International. SCE provides
electric service to 12 million individuals in 835 cities and
communities. SCE serves 4.6 million customer accounts, including 285,000
commercial, industrial, and non-profit customers in thriving areas of
Central and Southern California. SCE helps its customers get the most
for their energy dollars, and even earn rebates, through SCE's award
winning energy efficiency programs.
Mercedes Benz - USA (Fontana, San Bernardino County)
Mercedes Benz is an automotive parts distribution center with 128
employees and receives approximately 1,500 parts or more a day. Parts
range from nuts and bolts to engines and body panels, requiring a
variety of packing materials. The company's most successful recycling
method is in the area of corrugated products and wood pallets. They are
sold to a recycling plant which generates income and reduces the cost of
pick-up and delivery to a landfill. This has saved Mercedes Benz
approximately $335,000 in the year of 2004. A large undetermined amount
has also been saved by the use of reusable containers.
Safeway, Inc. (located throughout California)
Safeway is one of the largest retail grocery companies in North
America. With more than 211,000 employees, the company operates 557
California stores in its Vons and Northern California Divisions. Vons
has conducted a composting program for green waste at its stores since
1995. This program has been expanded into Safeway's Northern California
Division. The company reports significant savings have resulted from
reducing their waste disposal and landfill costs. Last year, the two
divisions diverted 210,926 tons from landfill disposal through
composting and recycling. In addition, Safeway's recycling programs
divert other materials from landfills, such as corrugated cardboard,
plastic, meat waste, metal, paper, and glass. For 2005, the company has
also been designated as a 'WRAP of the Year' honoree.
The 'WRAP of the Year' award is a special distinction made from among
hundreds of outstanding businesses that earn WRAP awards from the
State's Integrated Waste Management Board each year. For their
leadership and model waste reduction efforts, a total of 95 businesses
have received the special designation of 'WRAP of the Year.'
The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the State's
leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes a zero
waste California in partnership with local government, industry, and the
public. This means reducing waste whenever possible, promoting the
management of all materials to their highest and best use, and
protecting public health and safety and the environment. |
