MDEQ Recognizes 2018 enHance Members

(JACKSON, Miss.) — The Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) accepted nine renewal memberships into its enHance program for the 2018 class on Thursday.  The recognition was part of the annual workshop and awards luncheon held in Jackson including celebrating the program’s tenth anniversary this year.

enHance is a voluntary stewardship program that recognizes committed environmental leaders who accomplish goals beyond their legal requirements. enHance is open to facilities, cities, counties, and other entities who are interested in the program, and applicants can choose from three tiers: Leader, Steward, or Associate.

“It is an honor to recognize these members that are actively striving to reduce their wastes, reduce their environmental impacts, and improve the quality of life in their communities. Their vision and leadership is to be commended, as their efforts result in both immediate and long-term benefits for the residents of our state.

“Cooperatively we are extremely proud of the members’ accomplishments over the life of the enHance program and their benefit to the environment. The members’ impact includes the recycle, reuse, and reduction of solid waste of 85,964 tons, a reduction of 274,226 pounds of hazardous waste, a reduction of 18 million MMBTU of energy, and a reduction of 251 million gallons of water,” said Gary Rikard, MDEQ Executive Director.

Renewing members for 2018:

LEADER

AKzo Nobel Pulp & Performance Chemicals Inc. (Columbus)

Ark-EII Springs Leggett & Platt (Houlka)

Baxter Healthcare (Cleveland)

Columbus Air Force Base (Columbus)

Hunter Douglas (Tupelo)

Northrop Grumman Corporation (Moss Point)

Nucor Steel Jackson, Inc. and General Recycling of Mississippi, LLC (Flowood)

Super Sagless (Tupelo)

STEWARD

City of Hernando

Details on the members and their efforts follow this release.

Members include private companies, federal government facilities, and local governments. Membership is voluntary, and applications for membership may be submitted each year from July 1 through September 30.

More information about the program is available at www.enhance.ms.

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2018 enHance Members

 

 

LEADERS

 

Akzo Nobel Pulp & Performance Chemicals, Inc. (Columbus)

In 2016, a salt dissolver backwash collection system was re-designed to make it more effective in removing salt impurities while using less water. The company is also working with TVA to reduce energy demand during peak load times, reducing the facility’s carbon footprint and lowering power costs. Company engineers also assisted nearby Lake Lowndes State Park with an energy study and subsequent implementation to reduce energy costs. Akzo Nobel has a Health, Safety, Environment and Security policy and is ISO 14001 certified.  Akzo Nobel is a leading global paints and coatings company and major producer of specialty chemicals. The company’s Columbus location produces performance chemicals for the pulp and paper industry.

Ark-Ell Springs Leggett & Platt (Houlka)

Ark-Ell Springs participates in the EFEC (Enhancing Furniture’s Environmental Culture) program, which provides the framework for a furniture industry-specific environmental management system. At the corporate level, Leggett & Platt has introduced the Eco Initiative for improved environmental management. Ark-Ell has implemented projects to recycle wood pallets and sinuous gearbox oil. Energy projects include oven insulation to decrease propane usage and engineering improvements to the oven burner tube and flame spreader. Ark-Ell Springs has an ongoing project to recycle used aerosol spray cans. They also are replacing all toilets in the facility with water-saving models. As part of Earth Day, a contest was held to see which employee could bring the most recyclables from home. Ark-Ell Springs is a manufacturer of steel wire springs for the residential furniture industry located in Houlka. The company was founded in 1970 and today is a division of Leggett & Platt. Key products include springs for mattresses and bedsprings.

Baxter Healthcare (Cleveland)

Baxter Healthcare has an Environmental, Health, Safety and Sustainability Policy that expresses their commitment to sustainability, employees, compliance, business integration, customers, suppliers and contractors, and community and government. Baxter conducts an annual review of steam traps to identify traps that are not operating properly or are not sized properly. Corrective action is taken to improve steam system efficiency. They have also undertaken a project to replace selected HID lighting with more energy-efficient LED lighting. Baxter partners with MDEQ, Bolivar County, the City of Cleveland, and the local Chamber of Commerce to host Bolivar Earth Day. Baxter is ISO 140001 compliant. Baxter Healthcare Corporation, a subsidiary of Baxter International, develops, manufactures, and markets healthcare equipment and instruments. The facility in Cleveland manufactures intravenous and irrigating solutions, medical devices, and associated supplies.

Columbus Air Force Base

The 14th Flying Training Wing (FTW) Commander has issued an Environmental, Safety, and Occupational Health Management policy that addresses CAFB’s commitment to sustainable energy, environmental, safety, and occupational health practices. Using proceeds from the sale of recycled materials, CAFB purchased a canopy and installed a drop-off “wall” along the recycling yard fence to allow 24/7 drop-off services for on- and off-base residents. Columbus Air Force Base is home of the 14th FTW of the Air Education and Training Command’s 19th Air Force. The 14th FTW mission statement is “Produce Pilots, Advance Airmen, Feed the Fight.” The wing’s mission is specialized undergraduate pilot training in the T-6 Texan II, T-38C Talon and T-1A Jayhawk aircraft. In addition to the flying training mission, Columbus AFB is home to more than 900 highly trained individuals capable of deploying at a moment’s notice to support worldwide taskings and contingencies.

Hunter Douglas (Tupelo)

Hunter Douglas has an ongoing project to reduce solid waste going to the landfill. The project consists of reducing landfill waste through robust recycling and reuse programs. This project has resulted in less waste volume/tonnage going to landfills, as well as reducing waste program operating costs. The recycling program is part of the employee incentive program. Employees are also encouraged to bring recyclables from home. The company also has an initiative to reduce its carbon footprint and energy costs by reducing energy consumption at the site. The facility is currently engaged in a mass “re-lamping,” converting all old lighting fixtures with LEDs. Hunter Douglas is ISO 14001 certified. Hunter Douglas is the world’s leading manufacturer of window coverings.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (Moss Point)

As part of their corporate responsibility efforts, Northrop Grumman is aligning their business with sustainability practices, embracing green initiatives and translating their shared values into measurable actions. Their aim is to become a more sustainable business by measuring impact; encouraging conservation at home, in the workplace and in the community; and supporting environmentally friendly businesses and initiatives. Northrop Grumman has ongoing projects to reduce manufacturing debris waste and VOC emissions. Manufacturing debris has been reduced through improved inventory processes that allow for more intelligent purchasing. The site utilizes a Chemical Review Process to evaluate all materials before approval for use at the site. Specifically, the VOC must be reviewed by ESH and lower VOC alternatives considered before approval is given. Northrop Grumman is ISO 14001 certified. Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions to government and commercial customers worldwide. They offer an extraordinary portfolio of capabilities and technologies for applications from undersea to outer space and into cyberspace.

Nucor Steel Jackson and General Recycling of Mississippi, LLC (Flowood)

Nucor Steel Jackson has a formal environmental policy that focuses on resources, improvement, value, employees, and responsibility. Nucor is conducting ongoing projects to decrease natural gas consumption in the Rolling Mill Re-Heat Furnace (a major consumer of natural gas) as well as reducing energy intensity mill-wide. Nucor Steel Jackson is a world class producer of steel bar products and serves customers throughout the United States as well as Canada and Mexico. The mill has been operating over five decades. Also a part of the Nucor Jackson division is General Recycling of Mississippi, LLC, the largest scrap recycler in the area.

Super Sagless (Tupelo)

Super Sagless Hardware became an EFEC-registered branch in July 2011. Super Sagless has completed a project to replace outdated plant and office lighting with LED lamps. They also are conducting an ongoing project to find and repair compressed air leaks throughout the facility. Super Sagless Hardware received a certificate of environmental achievement from Safety-Kleen for avoiding five metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions through their closed-loop recycling program for used oil and solvents in the first three quarters of 2015. Community involvement at Super Sagless Hardware was evident recently with 11 employee participants in a Habitat for Humanity grounds’ cleanup for a future building site. The facility also donated eco-friendly paint for the house being built. Super Sagless Corporation, a subsidiary of Leggett & Platt located in Tupelo, manufactures hardware for recliners, rockers, and gliding chairs and tubular products, powder coating, and rails.

STEWARD

City of Hernando

The City of Hernando is dedicated to minimizing the negative impact of the city government on the environment, through a process of continual improvement in environmental performance of operations and seeks opportunities for improvement and to assess in advance the environmental effect of any significant acquisition or development. The city offers single-stream curbside recycling to residents with weekly pickup, including plastics #1 – #7 and plastic bags, glass, and paper/cardboard. The city also offers decorative recycling containers in the downtown area and a drop-off recycling bin is located at the community center. The city was awarded a Brownfields Assessment Grant in 2016 and is using the funds to assess properties that are contaminated, have the potential for contamination or are perceived to have the presence of a pollutant for the redevelopment and revitalization of the community. Hernando is a Tree City USA with an active Tree Board and development policies designed to promote environmental sustainability.