EPA Recognizes Daikin Texas Technology Park as National WasteWise Award Winner for Innovations in Waste Reduction

 U.S. EPA News Release:

EPA Recognizes Daikin Texas Technology Park as National WasteWise Award Winner for Innovations in Waste Reduction

Virco Mfg. Corporation of Conway, Ark., & Owens PLLC of DeSoto, Texas, win regional awards

 

DALLAS (Jan. 31, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently recognized Daikin Texas Technology Park of Waller, Texas, among the WasteWise program’s national award winners for 2020 and 2021. In total, the winners prevented and diverted close to 408,000 tons of waste that would otherwise be disposed of in landfills or incinerators, contributing to climate change. Instead, they saved over $22.5 million in avoided landfill costs and prevented emissions that contribute to climate change and other environmental impacts. 

 

“Innovation, courage, and knowledge to overcome pandemic-related challenges are the cornerstones of the WasteWise award winners,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “Their actions to creatively develop and implement solutions to reduce waste during a global health crisis contributed to reducing the pollution that’s fueling climate change, while helping conserve natural resources.”  

 

“Companies that make it a priority to reduce waste benefit the environment and reduce strain on our resources, and quite often see a financial return on their investment,” said Regional Administrator Dr. Earthea Nance. “Congratulations to national winner Daikin Texas Technology Park and our regional winners on their many levels of success with the WasteWise program.”

 

Daikin received the 2021 America Recycles Award for their efforts to achieve zero waste to landfills from the company’s processes and at their facility in Waller, Texas. Daikin developed a returnable container system for supply packaging to reduce several hundred tons of wood and cardboard waste, and send 4,000 tons of pallets to be recycled instead of to a landfill. The company also invested in reducing recycling stream contamination to increase recyclability of plastic film by 274 tons. These efforts also saved the company nearly $1.25 million over two years.

 

“Alignment is a force multiplier. Having our employees, suppliers, vendor partners, and contractors all aligned with Daikin’s goal to achieve zero waste by 2035 makes this herculean task achievable,” said Satara Henry, Environmental Director for Daikin.

 

Virco Mfg. Corporation of Conway, Arkansas, was recognized as a regional winner for continuing and expanding recycling and reuse efforts of school furniture and supplies during the business disruptions of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over 2019 and 2020, Virco diverted more than 6,400 tons of potential landfill waste and distributed more than $300,000 in recycling incentives to participating schools.

 

“Virco Mfg. is very proud of our recycling efforts and of the employees who make it happen. Virco will continue to maintain a strong waste management program and we are committed to finding new markets for our recyclables,” said Scotty Bell, Chief Operating Officer of Virco Mfg. Corporation.

 

EPA also honored regional awardee Owens PLLC of DeSoto, Texas, for continuing to reduce waste and convert many of their functions to paperless, electronic versions.

 

As one of EPA’s longest-running voluntary programs, WasteWise celebrated its 27^th year in 2021. Over the years, WasteWise partners prevented and diverted close to 249 million tons of waste from landfills and incinerators, preventing more than 488 million tons of associated greenhouse gas emissions, and saving over $13.7 billion in avoided landfill costs. 

 

EPA recognizes WasteWise partners in several data categories that report the best overall improvement in waste prevention and recycling activities when compared to the previous year. This year, EPA also recognizes winners in narrative categories that achieved exemplary waste reductions in their organizations and businesses. 

 

The WasteWise award winners achieved noteworthy accomplishments, such as reprocessing N95 respirators, implementing Sustainable Purchasing Guidelines at a university, and reusing shipping containers for return trips to avoid waste. 

 

The 2020 WasteWise national data winners are: 

 

Very Large Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: Kohl’s (Menomonee Falls, Wis.) 

Large Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (Gaffney, S.C.) 

Mid-size Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: iThink Financial Amphitheatre (West Palm Beach, Fla.) 
• Honorable Mention: Live Nation - PNC Music Pavilion (Charlotte, N.C.) 

Small Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: Ombligo, Inc. (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 

College/University Category 

• Partner of the Year: Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) 

Local Government Category 

• Partner of the Year: City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management (Chesapeake, Va.) 

Non-profit Organization Category 

• Partner of the Year: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston) 

School/School District Category 

• Partner of the Year: Adams 12 Five Star Schools (Thornton, Colo.) 

 

The 2021 WasteWise national data winners are: 

 

Very Large Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: Walgreens Boots Alliance (Deerfield, Ill.) 

Large Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (Gaffney, S.C.) 

• Honorable Mention:  ComEd (Oakbrook Terrace, Ill.) 

Small Business Category 

• Partner of the Year: ECOS (Lacey, Wash.) 

State Government Category 

• Partner of the Year: Delaware River and Bay Authority (New Castle, Del.) 

Local Government Category 

• Partner of the Year: City of Fort Lauderdale (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 

Tribal Government Category 

• Partner of the Year: Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut (Uncasville, Conn.) 

Non-profit Organization Category 

• Partner of the Year: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston) 

  

The 2021 WasteWise national narrative winners are: 

 

Green Innovator: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston) 

Sustainability Public Education: Central Michigan University (Mount Pleasant, Mich.) 

America Recycles: Daikin Texas Technology Park (Waller, Texas)