State Employee Recycling Program Receives Top EPA Award; America Recycles Day Nov. 15
Wednesday, November 12, 2008 | 10:22am
NASHVILLE – America Recycles Day is Nov. 15 and Tennessee state employees are leading by example as they continue waste reduction efforts through the State Employee Recycling Program, which has received the WasteWise State Government Partner of the Year Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the sixth consecutive year.
“Year after year, EPA has recognized Tennessee state employees for their commitment to waste reduction and responsible recycling,” said Governor Phil Bredesen. “We should be proud of these efforts and I encourage all Tennesseans to join us in our commitment to better protect and preserve our natural resources by reducing our waste stream.”
The State Employee Recycling Program, coordinated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, continues to expand its waste prevention and recycling efforts. With more than 22,000 state employees participating, nearly 800 tons of mixed office paper was recycled in 2007, generating more than $16,500 in revenue and saving almost $24,000 in landfill costs. Since the program’s inception in 1990, state employees have recycled 15,937 tons of mixed office paper, saving more than $478,000 in landfill disposal costs while generating nearly $146,500 in recycling revenue. These recycling revenues are deposited in the Solid Waste Management Fund, which is used to help assist local communities in their solid waste reduction efforts.
The program also targets plastic and aluminum recycling, as well as non-traditional items,such as clothing, coat hangers, eyeglasses and greeting cards, for reuse, donation and recycling. For more information about Tennessee’s State Employee Recycling Program, visit the Web site at www.tn.gov/environment/ea/serp.
WasteWise is a free and voluntary partnership program that was launched by EPA in 1994. The program provides guidance and recognition to nearly 1,900 participating organizations that are working to find practical methods to reduce municipal solid waste and to improve financial performance. For more information about EPA’s WasteWise program contact the WasteWise Helpline at (800) EPA-WISE (372-9473).
All Tennesseans can take the pledge to reduce, reuse and recycle as part of America Recycles Day, Nov. 15. A link to the recycling pledge can be found on Environment and Conservation’s Web site at www.tn.gov/environment/ea/americarecycles/. The pledge page also contains additional information including how recycling works, basic guidelines for effective recycling and interesting end products under the heading, “Recycling 101.”
###
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 12, 2008
Contact: Meg Lockhart (615) 253-1916