Published June 21, 2012
By Huw Evans
This week, General Motors announced that thanks to a parts distribution center, located in Lansing, Mich. the company now boasts 100 facilities around the world that don’t send any waste to landfill sites, – that is, all waste from daily operations is either recycled, reused or converted to energy.
In addition, the Lansing facility is the second GM complex to achieve Energy Star Certification by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for superior energy efficiency. GM’s nearby Lansing Delta Township assembly plant, which manufactures the Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia SUVs, received Energy Star Certification back in December.
GM began its initiative to reduce waste sent to landfills 15 years ago and in 2011, said it had recycled or re-used 2.6 million metric tons at all its facilities world wide. To put the number in perspective, that’s equivalent to more than 38 million garbage bags.
In its first sustainability report, following the company’s restructuring in 2009, GM said that it plans to add 25 more landfill-free locations and reduce its total waste output a further 10 percent by 2020.
As for the Lansing distribution center, it has been able to generate $42,358 in revenue from recycling old cardboard boxes and wood pallets, plus a further $27,947 from recycling old lead acid automotive batteries.
“GM is committed to reducing its environmental footprint worldwide,” remarked Mike Robinson, GM vice president of sustainability and global regulatory policy. “The distribution center in Lansing is proof of our drive to be energy efficient and increase recycling throughout our operations.”
