PRESS RELEASE: May 1, 2015
STORM
SMART RECOGNIZED BY DEP FOR OUTSTANDING RECYCLING EFFORT
~DEP honors company for
its more than 57 percent recycling rate~
FORT MYERS – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection's South
District recognized Storm Smart for its superior recycling efforts today during
the SWFL
Sustainability Summit in Fort Myers. Storm Smart is the largest hurricane protection company in
Florida with more than 150 employees. In 2014, this Florida business achieved a
recycling rate of 57.5 percent.
“Businesses can benefit financially from investing in recycling
and that investment benefits Florida's environment,” said DEP South Director Jon
Iglehart. “I am honored to recognize Storm Smart for its outstanding recycling
efforts, innovative reuse methods and for its environmental stewardship.”
Storm Smart reused or recycled close to 200 pallets in 2014
and recycles scrap aluminum from the production line. The long cardboard boxes containing
new reels of roll-down screens and shutters are reused. After opening, the
damaged ends are removed and recycled, and the box is reused to ship shorter
reels. This innovative process continues until the cardboard is too small for shipping
reels and is then recycled. As a result, Storm Smart reuses several times more
cardboard than it recycles.
Each work station at Storm Smart is equipped with one
garbage can and one recycling container, which encourages employees to consciously
choose to recycle. The company also utilizes a digital internal processing
system and discourages the use of paper or printing of native digital files.
One area where Storm Smart previously struggled
was with disposal of scrap pieces of the polypropylene mesh-based Storm Catcher
Wind Abatement Screen. In years past, all ‘drop’ pieces were gathered and
disposed of as standard refuse. Today, those pieces are used to create the very
popular Storm Catcher tote bags distributed at company sponsored and community
events.
“Living in such a beautiful place as Southwest Florida is
motivation enough for us at Storm Smart to do our part in preserving that
beauty for future generations,” said Storm Smart President and CEO Brian Rist. “We
consider recycling and materials repurposing as smart business and would
encourage all other businesses to share in that philosophy.”
The department has an easy tool for companies to track recycling
efforts - the Florida DEP Business Recycling Tracking Tool. Through
the website, which includes free registration, companies can track different
types of recycling efforts and produce reports on how those efforts are helping
to shrink their carbon footprint. The tracking tool helps the department identify
companies that are doing more to go green.
Approximately 55 percent of the total municipal solid waste
stream in Florida is commercial. In order for Florida to reach a 75 percent
recycling rate by 2020, a goal established by the Florida Legislature in 2008,
the department is urging all sectors, especially the commercial sector, to increase
their recycling efforts. According to the 2013 data, only 51 percent of
commercial waste is being recycled. It is crucial that businesses, schools and
other commercial recyclers increase their recycling efforts. Recycling provides
a direct cost savings to most businesses because the more that is recycled, the
less waste and lower waste-management operating costs. Reuse of materials can
also represent a cost savings.
For more information about the Recycling Recognition Program
click here.
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