The Renton, WA, manufacturing plant of Kenworth Truck Co. has been honored once again for its waste-reduction efforts. King County’s (WA) Solid Waste Division has given the facility a 2011 Best Workplace for Recycling and Waste Reduction Award.
“Kenworth is honored to again receive this significant King County environmental award for the third consecutive year,” said Marilyn Santangelo, Kenworth assistant gmfor operations. “The Kenworth-Renton plant is committed to protect the environment through a comprehensive, employee-driven program, which fosters extensive recycling and reduction of waste.”
The plant, which received a 2010 Gold Award for the 12th consecutive year from the King County Industrial Waste Program for adherence to wastewater compliance and reporting, incorporates a Zero Waste to Landfill program.
Under the program, the plant has diverted nearly 80% of all waste materials through the use of recycling bins, returnable shipping containers, reduced packaging material and waste-stream segregation.
“Our employees take their daily efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle very seriously, and we thank King County for this special recognition,” said Mike Clark, Kenworth-Renton plant manager.
Kenworth also noted that the plant’s cafeteria sends waste to the Cedar Grove Composting facility in Renton for recycling into usable compost.
The Kenworth Renton plant, along with the OEM’s Chillicothe, OH facility, both hold ISO 14001:2004 certification for effective environmental management systems.