Hilex Poly Company LLC has joined the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) WasteWise program. Hilex Poly joins as both a partner and an endorser of WasteWise.

“As the industry leader in recycling, we are proud of our waste reduction efforts to date and have set an ambitious goal of using 40 percent recycled content in our products by 2015. Our challenge has been to find additional ways to build on these efforts and accurately measure future progress. Now, with our partners at the EPA WasteWise we can set, track and recognize goals that not only improve our sustainability but our customer’s sustainability as well,” says Stan Bikulege, CEO and president of Hilex Poly.

“Hilex Poly has already been working with retailers, communities and shoppers to promote and establish recycling programs at more than 30,000 supermarkets and retailers across the country. Together we have used the “closed loop” recycling model to help keep billions of plastic bags and millions of pounds of film out of local landfills. Becoming a WasteWise endorser means that other manufacturers can also benefit from our experiences in this area,” Bikulege adds. “As Hilex looks to the future we are committed to helping more communities and shoppers reduce both municipal and plastic bag waste by bringing their used bags, plastic film and other flexible plastics back to the store,” he concluded.

Granger, Lansing, Mich., has been recognized as a finalist by the Environmental Management Association (EMA) for the 2009 Environmental Achievement Award. F

In a news release, Granger says it is being considered for its comprehensive management of waste resources for recycling, composting and landfill gas conversion to energy.

Granger describes itself as a third-generation, family-owned and operated business. Starting as a small waste hauling and landfill disposal operation more than 50 years ago, the company now operates two sanitary landfills, a recycling center and a composting facility in the Lansing area.

In 1985, Granger became a pioneer in renewable energy by developing what it says is the first landfill gas recovery facility in Michigan, a project that provided fuel for a nearby industrial plant. Five years after that, Granger began supplying electricity generated from landfill-derived methane gas to a utility company. Since then, Granger has expanded its commitment to renewable energy, developing several other methane recovery projects with various partners in Michigan and other states.

Granger’s eight electric plants in the Great Lakes region generate a total of 31.2 megawatts of power, which is sold to local utilities to provide a renewable source of energy. In addition, four direct-use operations in the region provide 14,100 standard cubic feet per minute of renewable energy to several industrial end users, according to the company.

Granger employs 200 people in six states. More information on the company can be found on its Web site at www.grangernet.com.

EMA, based in the Greater Detroit area, says the criteria for winning its Environmental Achievement Award includes demonstrating a commitment to the environment that results in improved quality of life and uses of resources from the environmental industry to provide innovative solutions to potential environmental challenges.
 

The Confederation of Paper Industries has named David Workman is to be its new Director General. He will succeed Martin Oldman who retiring later this year.

Workman has been the director general of the British Glass Manufacturers Confederation since 2001. Between 2004 and last year, Workman was president of the CPIV, the glass industry’s European umbrella body.

“We are very fortunate to have found someone of David’s caliber to lead our dedicated and professional team of experts at the CPI. I look forward to working with him in order to further promote and defend the interests of all sectors of the Paper and related Industries,” says Bob McLellan, president of the CPI.

Waste Management of Orange County's (WMOC) Sunset Environmental Transfer Station received notification from the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration that it has achieved Star Certification as part of the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), the highest safety achievement offered by Cal/OSHA.

WMOC's Sunset Environmental Transfer Station is the first transfer station in the United States to be recognized as a Cal/VPP Star site, and only the second facility in the municipal solid waste industry to achieve this certification; the only other facility to receive the certification is Waste Management's hauling district in Carlsbad, Calif. 

Cal/VPP is designed to recognize safety and health systems that prevent and control occupational hazards. These systems go beyond ensuring that the minimal Cal/OSHA standards are met by providing the best feasible protection at that site.  Cal/VPP emphasizes the importance of site-specific occupational safety and health programs and encourages their improvement. Cal/OSHA provides recognition to those sites whose programs have achieved occupational safety and health excellence.