Fairfax County Office of Public Affairs
12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 551
Fairfax, VA 22035-0065
Contact: Merni Fitzgerald, Director of Public Affairs
703-324-3187, TTY 711, Fax 703-324-2010
Media Pager: 703-324-NEWS (6397)
publicaffairs@fairfaxcounty.gov
May 20, 2008
Fairfax County Presents Recycling Award to 8 Local Businesses
The Fairfax County Solid Waste Management Program recently named eight recipients for the 2008 Business Recycling Award. The winners are:
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Freddie Mac Corporation: In 2007, Freddie Mac recycled more than
457 tons of material resulting in a disposal cost savings of $23,000.
Thanks to their efforts in recycling and purchasing products made with
recycled content, they have reduced their carbon footprint by 12,000
tons per year.
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Raytheon Company: In 2007, Raytheon recycled 53 percent of its
waste and saved approximately $33,000 in disposal costs. Raytheon has
successfully integrated the idea of recycling and “being green” into
their corporate culture through creative and effective employee reward
and incentive programs.
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Noblis, Inc.: Noblis worked to expand its recycling efforts in
2007 by incorporating computer recycling, document shredding and
recycling, and the collection of grass, tree trimmings and brush that
is generated on the property outside their building. As a result, they
reduced the amount of annual trash generated by 34 percent.
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Peterson Management, LLC: As a result of their recycling efforts
on all of their residential and non-residential properties, Peterson
Management has reduced their carbon footprint by 200 tons in 2007. In
addition, Peterson Management has taken a leadership role in its local
community by sponsoring a computer recycling and paper shredding
opportunity at Springfest in early April.
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Booz Allen & Hamilton, Inc.: Since its inception, Booz,
Allen & Hamilton’s recycling program has expanded from just paper
to include cans and bottles, printer cartridges, fluorescent lamps and
ballast, and rechargeable batteries. In 2007, they successfully
recycled 522 tons of material — just over 28 percent of the total waste
generated.
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Science Applications International, Inc.: SAIC is one of the
largest firms in Fairfax County that actively recycles paper and
cardboard and cans and bottles, and problematic wastes like
electronics, fluorescent lamps and rechargeable batteries. Their
commitment to the environment extends beyond their own staff as they
also train vendors to recognize recyclable materials and require them
to comply with their recycling mandate.
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Reico Kitchen and Baths: In 2007, Reico Kitchen and Baths
donated unsold inventory with a total estimated value of $237 million
to charitable organizations such as Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore,
instead of disposing of the items in a landfill. In addition, corporate
strategies including the use of GPS mapping for efficient delivery
routing and virtual meetings have allowed Reico staff to reduce fuel
consumption and their carbon footprint.
- MITRE Corporation: In 2007, MITRE recycled or reused just over 239 tons of material representing an increase of 8 percent in their recycling rate from 2006. They have expanded their program to focus on recycling or reusing electronics, office furniture and carpeting; and purchasing products that are made of recycled content and display environmentally friendly certifications.
“The businesses in Fairfax County play a critical role in our ability to effectively recycle,” said Pamela Gratton, Fairfax County’s recycling manager. “The businesses we have recognized have accepted this responsibility by recycling not as a matter of requirement, but as a matter of principle. Their recycling efforts have resulted in real bottom-line benefits, but their commitment to our environment is recognized by and extends into the community of which they are a part.”
The purpose of the Business Recycling Award Program is to honor and reward those businesses that have achieved success in recycling and in making environmental stewardship a key part of their corporate culture and identity.
For more information about the awards or Fairfax County’s Solid Waste Management Program, contact Pamela Gratton at 703-324-5498, TTY 711.
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