FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2014
MIAMI MARLINS KNOCK
RECYCLING OUT OF THE PARK
~DEP's Recycling Recognition Program honors
company for its 54.4-percent recycling rate~
From left to right: Keyna Cory, Chuck Dees, Claude Delorme, Cliff Wilson, Jeff King and Jorge Caspary.
MIAMI – The Miami Marlins organization
is being recognized for its impressive 54.4- percent recycling rate. Today the
Florida Department of Environmental Protection recognized the team before the game.
DEP’s Deputy Secretary Cliff
Wilson and Director of Division of Waste Management Jorge Caspary joined Miami
Marlin’s V.P. of Facilities Jeff King and Executive Vice President of Operations and Events Claude Delorme, Florida Recycling Partnership Chair
Chuck Dees and Executive Director Keyna Cory for a recognition ceremony on the
field.
“I am pleased to recognize the
Miami Marlins for its dedication to recycling and sustainability,” said DEP
Deputy Secretary Cliff Wilson. “Through its comprehensive sustainability
program, the Miami Marlins saw the opportunity of a new ballpark as a chance to
become better stewards to Florida’s environment. It is setting a great
example for other large entertainment venues and sports franchises, not only in
Florida but also across the nation.”
The Miami Marlins have
implemented a comprehensive recycling plan that ensures plastics, metals,
paper, cardboard and glass are recycled during events held at the venue. During
the construction of the Miami Park District, the organization was able to
divert or recycle more than 95 percent of the construction waste. The team was
awarded Major League Baseball’s 2013 “Green Glove” award for the National
League’s East Division. This award goes to the top teams that have the highest
recycling rate in the league. The Miami Marlins is a member of the Florida
Recycling Partnership, a coalition of businesses and associations dedicated to
improving Florida’s recycling rates.
In addition to recycling
practices, Marlins Park was designed with many aspects of sustainability in
mind. From the energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling systems, to water
use reductions, Marlins Park is the most sustainable facility in Major League
Baseball. It is the first professional
sports facility in the world with a retractable roof to earn LEED Gold
Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.
“It is an honor for Marlins
Park to receive this recognition,” said Claude Delorme, Marlins Executive Vice
President of Operations and Events. “Our goal when we built this ballpark was
to create a venue that best served the South Florida community, while being
mindful of the environment. Moving forward, we aim to remain at the forefront
of sustainability.”
The department recently released the 2013
municipal solid waste annual report, which reported Florida’s statewide
recycling rate at 49 percent. In 2008, the Florida Legislature established a
new statewide recycling goal of 75 percent to be achieved by 2020.
The Miami Marlins franchise is
headquartered in Miami-Dade County, which ranks 18th in the state for total
recycling in 2013 at 41 percent. With a recycling rate more than nine percent
higher than the average commercial recycling rate for the state, the Miami
Marlins are an excellent example for other Florida businesses.
“On behalf of the Florida
Recycling Partnership, we congratulate the Miami Marlins for receiving the
Recycling Recognition Award. We need to encourage more businesses to step
up to the plate and help Florida increase its recycling rates,” said Keyna Cory, executive director of the Florida Recycling Partnership.
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 2013 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, the
less waste that is generated and the lower the waste management operating
costs. Reuse of materials can also represent a cost savings.
The department has an easy tool
for companies to track their 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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