Plastics Company Chosen by EPA for Program

Spartech Polycom’s facility in Lockport, N.Y., has been named one of the 25 facilities that has been selected as a new member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track program, which encourages top environmental performers to voluntarily commit to specific improvements over three years.

Acting Administrator Marianne Lamont Horinko said, "The 25 new members, including national parks, corporations, a university and other institutions, join the ranks of other Performance Track facilities working together with the EPA in a public commitment to superior environmental performance and our future."

Spartech Polycom manufactures various filled polypropylene and high density polyethylene materials. The plant produces about 50 million pounds of material annually, largely for the auto industry. The facility also makes plastic film that is used in yogurt containers, juice bottles and refrigerator doors.

The company has committed to grind up scrap parts and reuse the plastic, increasing its use of recycled and reused materials by about 100,000 pounds. It will also expand its recycle and reuse program for used packaging to reduce its solid waste by about 25 tons.

Members in the Performance Track program receive a range of incentives such as public recognition and low priority for routine EPA inspections. Facilities are also eligible for several kinds of administrative flexibility and streamlined administrative requirements that reduce costs and enable members to achieve better environmental results. In addition, members benefit from special services, including a learning network composed of top environmental performers that has a mentoring program, tele-seminars, EPA roundtable discussions and newsletters.

The other new Performance Track facilities include: Pfizer, Barceloneta, Puerto Rico; Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.; Xanterra Parks & Resorts at Grand Canyon National Park, Ariz.; Verkamp's Inc., Ark; CYRO Industries, Ark; U.S. Borax, Inc., Calif.; Rockwell Collins, Inc., 35th Street Operations and C Avenue Operations, Iowa; Webasto Roof Systems, Inc., Ky.; YH America, Inc., Ky.; Fairchild Semiconductor Corp., Maine; Nexfor Fraser Papers, Inc., Maine; Visteon Corp., Chesterfield Plant, Mich.; John Zink Co., LLC, Okla.; Eaton Hydraulics, SC; Xanterra at Mt. Rushmore National Memorial, SD; Delta Faucet Company of Tennessee, Tenn; Motorola, Inc., Ed Bluestein Facility, Texas; International Paper-Franklin Mill, Va.; Infineon Technologies Richmond, LLP, Va.; Stanley Furniture, Va.; Nestle USA Danville, Va.; Washington State University, Wash; and Grand Teton Lodge Company, Wyo.