By Julie Thibodeaux

The North Texas Corporate Recycling Association put green business practices in the spotlight at its Green 3 Awards last week at the Dallas Arboretum. The nearly 25-year-old nonprofit organization, which promotes recycling and the use of recycled goods, singled out some of the most notable efforts by local entities to reduce waste in North Texas.  

Here’s a recap of these recycling go-getters: 


The city of Garland won the award for Excellence in Education and Outreach. The city’s Waste Services Department launched its new automated and single stream recycling programs with a goal of increasing its collection by 25 percent the first year. Through outreach that included everything from public service announcements shown at movie theaters to apps developed for smart phones, the city surpassed its goal, increasing recycling by 28 percent. 
 


The city of Dallas and World Wear Project were honored for Best Recycling Partnership. Since 2012, Dallas has partnered with the local textile recycler to create the Dallas Athletic Shoe Donation Program. The program has collected more than 2.5 tons of athletic shoes at nearly 90 locations across the city. World Wear oversees sorting, cleaning, repairing and shipping the gently used shoes to third world countries such as Chile, Guatemala, Honduras and Bolivia. 

The city of Dallas Water Utilities won for Excellence in Materials Recovery. DWU’s Grease Abatement Program has reduced fats, oils and grease blockages in the sanitary sewer system by 96 percent over five years by educating residents and businesses to stop pouring grease down the drain. In addition, DWU is now using collected material from its Cease the Grease program to produce biogas and generate electricity at the Southside Waterwater Treatment Plant.

Mary Kay Inc. was honored for Superior Minimization. Mary Kay’s Dallas manufacturing R&D facility achieved its goal of zero landfill waste in October 2011, maintaining it through 2012-2013. The facility achieved its goal by taking 100 percent of its nonrecyclable waste to a facility that uses it to produce renewable energy. In 2012, 2.1 million pounds of nonrecyclable waste was diverted from the landfill. Carlos Troncoso of Mary Kay Inc was also named Recycler of the Year for developing the infrastructure for recycling at the Dallas facility to help the plant achieve its zero waste goal.  

Styro Insulations won for Recycled Product of the Year. The Oklahoma-based manufacturer has developed a process to recycle expanded polystyrene and turn it into insulation for both residential and commercial buildings.





Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital in Plano was awarded the Green 3 Achievement award. The hospital’s Go Green Committee expanded their single stream recycling program by finding outlets for a number of items that were being disposed of regularly. For example, nine-volt batteries, which are used only once in equipment, are now being tested by volunteers and offered to employees free. They also started upcycling writing utensils through Terracycle and are able to recycle many items used in operating rooms through other outlets. 

WFAA Project Green was given the Green 3 Media award for its education and outreach program. 

Dallas City Councilman Dwaine Caraway was given the Green 3 Elected Official award for his efforts to promote the environment, including proposing a Dallas plastic bag ban.

NTCRA board member Lora Hinchcliff received the Marilyn May award for her outstanding volunteer efforts. The award is named for one of the founders of NTCRA, who presented the award.

 


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 Julie Thibodeaux covers environmental issues, green topics and sustainable living for Green Source DFW. Previously, she worked as an editor and writer at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Contact her at Julie@greensourcedfw.org