Kenworth Truck Company among EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence award winners
Ohio EPA Director Anne M. Vogel is celebrating 48 businesses and organizations that are going above and beyond to protect Ohio’s environment and continue to show their commitment to environmental stewardship.
“Ohio is the heart of sustainability, and we’re committed to recognizing those at the forefront of innovation and stewardship,” said Ohio EPA Director Anne M. Vogel. “We’re excited to reward companies that are helping children grow up in a safe environment and partnering to support the communities they call home. Their work inspires all of us to do more, and we are proud to share in their success.”
Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence (E3) program recognizes businesses and organizations through four levels of recognition: Achievement, Silver, Gold and Platinum. The Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Communities (E3C) program recognizes local governments and communities, which can work toward three levels of recognition: Achievement, Silver, and Gold. The Encouraging Environmental Excellence in Education (E4) program recognizes K-12 public and private schools, which also work through three levels of recognition: Root, Branch and Leaf.
This year’s statewide E3 award winner is:
• The Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (E3 Platinum), operates its own composting facility and has composted 34.9 tons of food waste. The Department has a plan that encourages building efficiency while providing better care for incarcerated individuals. This includes an outdoor sensory garden at the Ohio Reformatory for Women, giving the residents access to gardening. Several of their facilities have received LEED Silver or higher certification, and they’re a Better Buildings: Better Projects award winner.
All Ohio Department of Corrections facilities had decreases in energy consumption last year, and they have reduced water usage by 22 percent (over 400 million gallons of water saved).
Southeast Ohio Award winners include:
• Kenworth Truck Company (Ross County, E3 Silver) recycled 2.5 million pounds of flammable waste, 1.5 million pounds of cardboard, 3.4 million pounds of wood and 1.4 million pounds of metal. They also have a leak detection program designed to reduce VOC emissions, and natural gas and air leaks.
• McWane Ductile Ohio (Coshocton County, E3 Silver) encourages innovation by hosting a contest consisting of teams from the McWane family of companies for the best pollution prevention ideas. The results of this contest have generated significant savings company wide. In addition, they have implemented energy efficiency upgrades at their facility, including purchasing regenerative burners, installing LED lighting and using variable efficiency drives.
More details about this year’s awardees’ accomplishments, and additional information about the program, are available on Ohio EPA’s Encouraging Environmental Excellence webpage at https://epa.ohio.gov/divisions-and-offices/environmental-financial-assi….