NASHVILLE, Tenn.—Bridgestone Americas Tire Operation plants in Aiken, S.C., and Wilson, N.C., have reduced the amount of waste products going to landfills to zero.
Nashville-based Bridgestone said this achievement reflects its commitment to "ensure a healthy environment for future generations" as well as to sustainable business practices in general.
"The teams at our Aiken and Wilson plants worked hard, and they take pride in being first to achieve zero waste to landfill. They know that our other plants are close on their heels," said Barry Owens, vice president, Bridgestone Americas Manufacturing Group.
"We get excited about major changes when we see healthy competition between our facilities. When it comes to recycling at Bridgestone, the race is on."
Bridgestone said progress to eliminate unnecessary use of landfills started with reductions of wastes. It continued in 2006 when it added a focus on finding uses for remaining landfill materials, including viewing waste streams as valuable resources that have markets, rather than landfills, as their destinations.
Waste at these facilities is sent to various beneficial-use markets, such as generating energy and recycling into other products, like mulch, Bridgestone said.
Since adding its corporate recycling focus in 2006, Bridgestone said recycling in the following company tire plants has progressed from nearly half of waste going to landfill to less than 15 percent overall: Aiken, S.C.; Bloomington, Ill.; Des Moines, Iowa; Joliette, Quebec; LaVergne, Tenn.; Monterrey, Mexico; Warren, Tenn.; and Wilson, N.C.
"Teammates across our business are always looking for innovative ways to improve our processes and reduce our environmental impact," said Tim Bent, director of environmental affairs, Bridgestone Americas.