Waste & Sustainability Wave Team Update by Steve Zera, Engineering Manager
Francisco Garcia using the “Repurposed Food Product” container
Lucas Liston recycling ingredient bags at the Mix Facility
Terrance Ross & the “Repurposed Food Product” container
It’s been a while since we’ve updated our progress in trying to eliminate as much sustainable waste as possible. The team of Emily Smith, Scott Storey, Randy Reuter, and I continue to look at ways to minimize the amount of waste we send to the landfill by researching opportunities to reuse, repurpose,recycle, and sometimes eliminate products from our process completely. It’s only been a couple of years since we got serious about taking this program beyond cardboard recycling and started looking at other opportunities. Most know that we’ve been recycling cardboard for almost 30 years. Several things prompt the need to enhance our sustainability program. Sure, there are financial benefits to recycling, some quite significant, but I’d like to think that a good part of why we do it is because it’s simply the right thing to do. Putting materials in the ground that will be there for 50 years before degrading just doesn’t seem right, especially when that material can be reused or repurposed. Also, this isn’t just a Crest thing. Being “green” is a world-wide effort and most of our big customers expect us to have a working sustainability program before they’ll even con- sider us as a partner. In some cases, we must provide documentation to customers on a regular basis proving our commitment. Also, there are county and state requirements that we’re obligated to follow. So, let’s update you as to where we are today. We’ll just skim over the fact that we continue to recycle as much as 200 tons of cardboard a month. We’ve done that for a long time. Most know that we recycle office paper in all loca- tions as well. Stretch film is being contained for recycling in all locations, including the Karlin warehouse. We recycle all of our steel drums and shop fabricating scrap. Plastic drums, broken pallets and totes, and general plastic scrap continue to be a difficult commodity to deal with, but we’re focused on finding a home for that material. What’s new? We’re now recycling all of our ingredient bags from the Ingredient Division and the Mix facility. Believe it or not, we’ll recycle over 600 tons a year that was previously going to the land fill. As a result, we’ve totally converted a 40 yd. trash compactor in the Mix facility (see picture) to a recycle only system! Our latest major effort, and maybe the largest to date, captures our waste food product that would have previously ended up as trash. By now, everyone has seen totes marked “Repurposed Food Product”. We are close to having plant wide coverage with these containers. Specifically, these are used to capture all food waste from checkweigher rejects, product damaged in process, catch tubs, QA testing, floor sweepings, old age stock, etc. This food product is then separated from the pouch and carton material and is repurposed as animal feed, specifically for cattle and hogs. We’ve come a long way in our efforts to manage and minimize our waste. There will always be new opportunities as technology advances, and we’ll continue to work hard to enhance our program.
16 Crest Ink April, May & June 2016
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker