FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 18, 2013
DEP RECOGNIZES INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY CORPORATION FOR RECYCLING EFFORTS
~Headquarters’ 60 percent recycling rate and sustainability programs a
model for Florida businesses~
 DEP Secretary Vinyard joined state, local and ISC officials to present recycling recognition award to International Speedway Corporation
DAYTONA BEACH– The Florida
Department of Environmental Protection and Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr.
recognized the International Speedway Corporation today for its
recycling efforts at the International Motorsports Center, world headquarters
for ISC, NASCAR GRAND-AM and Daytona International Speedway.
The International Motorsports Center, which has been recognized by the U.S.
Green Building Council with its Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
gold certification and the EPA’s Energy Star certification, has a recycling
rate of 60 percent, which is roughly 20 percent higher than Florida's average
commercial recycling rate.
“The International Speedway Corporation’s recycling efforts and comprehensive
sustainability program both are good things for Florida’s environment,” said
DEP Secretary Herschel T. Vinyard Jr. “I am pleased to highlight the ISC’s
efforts with this recognition award, which shows that major companies
throughout Florida are taking recycling and sustainability seriously.”
ISC, working together with NASCAR -- which has the largest
recycling and environmental sustainability programs of U.S. sports --
has partnered with multiple organizations to successfully assist in its
environmental sustainability programs. As examples, the corporation and Coca-Cola, are
working hand-in-hand to provide opportunities for race fans to actively
participate in recycling programs, while Safety-Kleen assists ISC with event
waste recycling. The corporation participates in the largest tree planting program in
sports in partnership with UPS. Watkins Glen International and NextEra Energy
have joined forces to launch a windmill project that will create a lasting renewable
energy resource for the area.
Florida Representatives Dwayne
Taylor and David Santiago were on hand to congratulate the corporation and to echo
Secretary Vinyard's sentiment of the importance of recycling in Florida. ISC Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Daryl Wolfe accepted the recognition award and spoke on behalf of
the company.
“We are honored to receive the Recycling Recognition Program award from the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection,” stated ISC Chief Executive
Officer Lesa France Kennedy. “Environmental sustainability is a lifelong
commitment and we are excited to see further progress and improvements
throughout our company. The International Motorsports Center is just one part
of a comprehensive sustainability program that we are undertaking for a healthy
environment.”
The Department recently released 2012 municipal solid waste annual
report, which reported Florida’s statewide recycling rate is 48 percent. In
2008, the Florida Legislature established a new statewide recycling goal of 75
percent to be achieved by 2020. ISC is headquartered in Volusia County, which
ranked 16th in the state for recycling in 2012, at 43 percent.
Commercial municipal solid waste
accounts for approximately 55 percent of the total municipal solid waste stream
in Florida. In order for Florida to reach its 75 percent goal, the Department
is urging all sectors, especially the commercial sector, to actively increase
its recycling efforts. According to the 2012 data, less than half 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 means
less waste and lower waste management operating costs. Reuse of materials can
also represent a cost savings.
The Department has an easy tool for companies to track its
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 will help the
Department to recognize companies that are doing more to go green. For more
information about the Recycling Recognition Program click here.
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