Silver Spring, MD – May 18, 2010 – The National Ready Mixed Concrete Association’s Green-Star Program has now certified 100 plants across the United States. NRMCA producer member Palomar Transit Mix, a subsidiary of Vulcan Materials Company, had its Oceanside, CA, concrete batch plant certified and designated the 100th Green-Star plant. The plant is also Vulcan’s third Green-Star plant in Southern California.
Almost 2 years old, the Green-Star program has quickly become the ready mix industry’s premier environmental management tool for producers who strive toward completing a rigorous, plant-specific certification process that utilizes an Environmental Management System (EMS) based on a model of continual improvement. Program benefits include:
· Favored Status – Customers favor doing business with organizations that are known to be protective of the environment.
· Increased Revenues – Organizations will attain savings through efforts in pollution prevention and waste reduction.
· Improved Efficiency – Sound, consistent environmental management methods will improve profits.
· Community Goodwill – An organization’s stance on environmental policy and action may be the most important factor in achieving and maintaining a community’s goodwill.
· Reduction of Liability and Risk – An organization is less apt to have environmental problems by using a pro-active EMS that documents results and is committed to continual improvement.
“We are very proud of this achievement,” said Alan Wessel, president of Vulcan’s Western Division. “Our participation in NRMCA's Green-Star Program has become a valuable part of the Western Division's Sustainability Program, which is designed to achieve economic, social and environmental balance in our operations and the communities we serve.”
"Vulcan Materials believes in ‘plant level ownership’ where the plant manager is responsible for tracking environmental metrics as well as correcting any deficiencies in the EMS,” said Doug Ruhlin, vice chairman of NRMCA’s Environmental Task Group from member company Resource Management Associates.
Through funding by the RMC Research & Education Foundation, NRMCA is currently working on Sustainable Concrete Plant Guidelines that will provide additional information for ready mixed concrete companies to enhance their environmental footprint. The guidelines will provide details on how concrete plants can further reduce energy consumption, carbon footprint, waste and potable water use along with increasing recycled material in concrete. They also will provide practical solutions to meet goals outlined in the NRMCA Sustainability Initiatives (www.nrmca.org/sustainability) recently adopted by the NRMCA Board of Directors.
“These programs are great examples of the ready mixed concrete industry’s commitment to environmental stewardship,” added NRMCA President Robert Garbini. “It is impressive to see the environmental commitment of Vulcan Materials’ Environmental Management System.”
NRMCA, based in Silver Spring, MD, represents the producers of ready mixed concrete and the companies that provide materials, equipment and support to the industry. It conducts education, training, promotion, research, engineering, safety, environmental, technological, lobbying and regulatory programs.
xxx
v.3.jpg){kind=spacer}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
