Kent-area entries among ‘Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling’
Published 1:10 pm Friday, August 5, 2016
For the Reporter
Commitment to innovation, cutting waste and saving resources are common traits among a diverse group of 112 businesses – along with their inclusion to the King County Solid Waste Division’s 10th-annual “Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling” list.
Several Kent-area workplaces were recognized.
“King County businesses are doing a lot to lessen the impacts of climate change by reducing waste,” said King County Solid Waste Division Program Manager Karen May. “We want to ensure businesses get the recognition they deserve for their efforts and inspire others to take action too.”
All businesses operating in King County outside of the City of Seattle are eligible for the list. To qualify, businesses must meet five basic criteria, as well as 10 additional waste reduction and recycling criteria.
To see the complete list, visit www.kingcounty.gov/recyclemore, and click on the link.
KENT-AREA WORKPLACES RECOGNIZED:
Engineering/Manufacturing category
Torklift Central returns for their seventh year as a Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling. Located in Kent, Torklift Central is an installation, repair and manufacturing shop that specializes in custom fabrication, trailer hitches, welding, and towing applications. Torklift recycles metal scraps (copper, steel, aluminum), oils, wood pallets, cardboard, and office supplies. In 2013, Torklift installed an electric car charging station to encourage employees to drive electric cars to work. In 2014, they refurbished their air systems to decrease their energy use in summer months.
AFL HYPERSCALE (formerly Net IG)
AFL HYPERSCALE, formerly Net IG, joins the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling in King County list this year. The Kent-based company designs and manufactures cable infrastructure. Net IG promotes waste reduction through a zero-new-packaging production line and reuses all received packaging materials. Their aggressive environmental policy includes eliminating non-reusable bottles and paper cups from the office; recycling wooden pallets, batteries and scrap metals; and encouraging employees to bring electronics from home for recycling.
Hexcel Corporation is proud to be named to the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list for its fourth year. Hexcel manufactures and tests lightweight, high-performance components used in commercial and military aircraft, and has a location in Kent. The Hexcel Kent facility has sustained waste reduction, material reuse, and recycling initiatives as part of site operations and processes. They recycle approximately 80 percent of solid waste by volume and send 75 percent of hazardous waste to “waste to energy” reuse programs.
Government/otilities
The city of Kent continues on the Honor Roll of King County’s Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list, leading by example for its citizens. The city’s facilities maintenance crew purchases only green cleaning products. Staff continues to do well with both recycling and food waste diversion with only the occasional reminder. New hires receive information in their new-hire packets to ensure participation. To date, the city has offered three “Repair Time” events for both staff and the public, to help keep viable products out of the garbage or from being dumped on vacant lands. Additionally, they continue to collect Styrofoam blocks, batteries, toner cartridges, and CFLs for recycling.
Other
Mr. Pressure Wash joins the Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling list for the first time this year. Instead of wasting 600-700 gallons of water per hour, as many pressure washing companies do, Mr. Pressure Wash uses a state-of-the-art water reclamation system to vacuum up the dirty water, pass it through an advanced filtering system, and reuse the clean water. Rather than adding chemicals to the wash water that are harmful to the environment, Mr. Pressure Wash uses a proprietary soap formulation that is mild and biodegradable. In addition, Mr. Pressure Wash has one of the best quality control programs in the industry to ensure dirty wash water does not run down the drains that feed into Puget Sound.
Styro Recycle LLC, Styrofoam recycling and pick-up service
Styro Recycle LLC, located in Kent, collects and processes Styrofoam. The company joins the list of Best Workplaces for Waste Prevention and Recycling in King County for its second year. The company collects Expanded Polystyrene (EPS, commonly known as Styrofoam) from businesses and the public for reuse in recycled plastic products. They have a pick-up service for local businesses and a residential and business drop site where they collect Styrofoam, polyethylene foam and cardboard.
Professional services
Ingenium Group, LLC provides full-spectrum environmental and waste management services, including transportation, recycling, and repurposing of hazardous and non-hazardous materials. This year, their Kent office joins the Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling Honor Roll for the first time for making the list five years in a row. Ingenium helps companies reduce costs by streamlining their processes and minimizing their waste volumes through strategies such as redirecting manufacturing by-products and from the landfill to waste-to-energy programs.
Real Estate/property management
Parkwood Apartments, a 90-unit multi-family housing community, joins the Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling list this year. They provide recycling bins throughout the community and recycle batteries and CFL lightbulbs. Further, they provide all of the residents with reusable bags and UsAgain bins for donating clothing, shoes, and other household items.
Technology
Applus Technolgies returns for their eighth year as a Best Workplace for Waste Prevention and Recycling, continuing on the Honor Roll. The technology services and electronic solutions provider is headquartered regionally in Kent and has 16 worksites in King County. By increasing the amount of compostable and recyclable materials purchased, Applus emission testing stations have reduced waste to one container, and in some cases eliminated regular waste containers all together. All locations now use 100 percent sugar, wheat, and/or straw paper for ecologically responsible printing. After purchasing a green printer made from recycled products for all locations last year, they invested in an environmentally friendly ColorQube technology for their copiers that use wax instead of toner.
