January 17, 2017 - Norfolk, VA. - Titan America’s Pennsuco Complex, which includes cement manufacturing, aggregates, quarrying, block manufacturing, and ready-mix concrete operations, was officially certificated as a Gold Level Zero Waste Facility this week, making it the only facility of its kind in the United States to achieve Zero Waste Status.
Randy Dunlap, President of Titan America’s Florida Business Unit, commented, “The Zero Waste Certification is a remarkable accomplishment and consistent with Titan America’s commitment to striving for best-in-class sustainability practices. Congratulations to our Environmental Department and thanks to everyone at Pennsuco for their help and support. We should all feel very proud of this.”
Titan’s Pennsuco Plant has been recognized for numerous sustainability initiatives, including Wildlife Habitat Certification and EnergyStar® Certification. Titan’s two cement plants (Pennsuco and Roanoke Cement) are among the few in the U.S. to be EnergyStar certified for ten consecutive years.
The Zero Waste project was initiated by Pennsuco’s Environmental Engineer, Audrey Fulton, who credits employees and their environmental mindset for achieving zero-waste certification.
“I couldn’t be more thrilled,” stated Ms. Fulton. “Going through the Zero Waste certification process took us to a new level; it inspired us to discover new and innovative opportunities for recycling and reuse.”
Ms. Fulton explained that Pennsuco employees have become even more adept at identifying new methods for possible revenue or internal reuse. “Rather than automatically sending things to the landfill, each waste stream is now an opportunity to achieve highest and best use.” She emphasized, “This is a major achievement at PNS.”
To qualify for Zero Waste Certification, the Pennsuco Complex was required to demonstrate greater than 90% diversion from landfill use for a minimum of 12 consecutive months. This includes reducing, reusing, recycling or composting discarded materials or recovering the materials for productive use in nature of the economy at biological temperatures and pressures. It requires implementing sustainable strategies for resource/waste management. The process for certification process also included an extensive on-site audit, which was performed by Zero Waste Council members.
Zero Waste recertification occurs every three years. Ms. Fulton and Mr. Dunlap both stated that they are aiming for Platinum Certification.
About Zero Waste Certification
Objectives of the US Zero Waste business Community’s third party Waste Facility Certification include supporting the Zero Waste International Alliance’s definition of no waste to landfill, incineration and the environment; driving the development of new markets and new ideas toward a Zero Waste Economy and meeting Zero Waste business request for valid and comprehensive third party certification. More information about Zero Waste and its certification program can be found at https://uszwbc.org.