FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 26, 2015
SAFT AMERICA’S JACKSONVILLE FACILITY RECOGNIZED
BY DEP FOR OUTSTANDING RECYCLING EFFORT
~DEP honors company for
its more than 51 percent recycling rate~
 Pictured from left to right: Jody
Beasley, Saft, Jacksonville Facility; Ron Green, Quality Engineer, Saft,
Jacksonville Facility; Chris Kaniut, General Manager, Saft, Jacksonville
Facility; Thomas J. Alcide, President, Saft America, Inc.; and Greg Strong, DEP's Northeast District Director
JACKSONVILLE – The Florida Department of Environmental
Protection's Northeast District recently recognized Saft America’s Jacksonville
facility for its superior recycling efforts. In 2014, this Florida business
facility achieved a recycling rate of 51.7 percent.
“Businesses can
benefit financially from investing in recycling and that investment benefits
Florida's environment,” said DEP Northeast District Director Greg Strong. “I am
honored to recognize Saft America’s Jacksonville facility for its outstanding
recycling efforts and for the good environmental stewards they have been in our
state.”
Saft
has recycling containers throughout the office areas for all types of paper, envelopes,
file folders, newspapers, magazines and catalogs. They also recycle aluminum
and steel cans, plastic bottles, toner and ink jet cartridges, alkaline and
rechargeable batteries, cardboard and wooden pallets.
In
addition to the materials counted as part of the 51.7 percent recycling rate,
Saft also recycles production-related materials including foam packaging,
bubble wrap, plastic strapping, plastic sleeves and plastic bags. Saft recycles
100 percent of one of the waste chemicals from the coating process. Production
scrap metal is reclaimed and sold to various manufacturers for reuse.
The
company’s recycling efforts have significantly reduced the waste that was going
to the landfill and yielded an annual savings of $41,000.
“One of
Saft’s core values is taking the long-term view which drives our recycling
efforts,” said Saft's Jacksonville facility Environmental, Health and Safety Manager,
Ron Green. “We continuously look for
creative new ways to expand our recycling program as well as ways to reuse or
repurpose materials.”
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 will help the department to
recognize companies that are doing more to go green.
Commercial municipal solid waste accounts for approximately 55 percent of the total municipal solid waste stream in Florida. 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 actively 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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