EPA Names City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management WasteWise Partner of the Year for Local Government

 U.S. EPA News Release:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: R3press@epa.gov

EPA Names City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management WasteWise Partner of the Year for Local Government

PHILADELPHIA (Jan. 31, 2022) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the accomplishments of the City of Chesapeake, Virginia, Central Fleet Management as one of 20 WasteWise National Partners of the Year. These national award winners for 2020 and 2021 prevented and diverted close to 408,000 tons of waste that would otherwise have been disposed of in landfills or incinerators, increasing global greenhouse gas emissions.  Instead, they saved over $22.5 million in landfill tipping fees and prevented climate and other environmental impacts.

The City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management, winning the Waste Wise Partner of the Year Award for Local Government, recycles five items in the current program: scrap metal, used oil, used tires, mixed recyclables and antifreeze. In 2019, Central Fleet Management recycled 311,020 pounds of scrap metal, mixed recyclables, and tires; as well as 5,750 gallons of used oil and antifreeze. 

The city is also making every effort to only purchase new hybrid vehicles or operate on alternative fuels – 41 percent of the vehicles in the 1,495-vehicle fleet run on alternative fuel. Since starting the recycling and environmental program in 2005, City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management has saved the city over $1.1 million. 

“EPA applauds the courage, innovation and knowledge of the City of Chesapeake Central Fleet Management” said EPA Mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator Adam Ortiz. “By creatively developing and implementing solutions to reduce waste, they and our other partners are reducing the effects of climate change, and conserving natural resources; the importance of which cannot be overstated.”

EPA recognizes WasteWise partners in several data categories for 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 who 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.

For more information and to learn about WasteWise https://www.epa.gov/smm/wastewise