NEC, Kohl’s, Frito-Lay, Harrahs Earn EPA WasteWise Awards

NEC, Frito-Lay, The Walt Disney Company, Allergan, Kohl’s, Krueger and Harrah’s are some of the  71 universities, government agencies, and private companies being recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing waste under the agency’s voluntary WasteWise and National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) partnership programs.

EPA partners earned the awards by preventing and recycling waste and implementing programs that exceed federal standards to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and remove harmful chemicals. Last year’s partners eliminated 11 million tons of materials from the waste stream.

WasteWise inducted two of its members, Kitsap County, Wash., and NEC Electronics America, Roseville, Calif., into the WasteWise Hall of Fame for their sustained program performance over the years.

Kitsap County achieved the award by expanding its simple recycling program into a county-wide program that integrates waste-prevention efforts in every department of county government, reports Kitsap Sun.

County programs range from implementing two-sided copies to a waste-exchange program that swaps supplies throughout county offices. In 2005, the county saved about $700,000 in waste-reduction efforts, according to the newspaper.

NEC Electronics America is the first semiconductor company to be inducted in the EPA’s Hall of Fame for waste reduction and commitment to environmental responsibility. The IC maker also earned another award for removing three toxic chemicals from its manufacturing process.

NEC’s environmental targets include recycling program expansions, further reductions in chemical usage, hazardous waste disposal, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing environmentally responsible manufacturing processes.

Kohl’s Department Stores attained a Gold Achievement Award for Green Purchasing. The retail chain earned the award for recycling more than 100,000 tons of plastic, cardboard and hangers in 2009, shifting to Web-based wage statements, using nearly 100 percent remanufactured ink cartridges at the corporate office, providing gift boxes and restroom papers made from 100 percent recycled content, and using 20 percent recycled content sourced from 100 percent certified forests for its advertising circulars.

Other efforts include partnering with vendors to reduce packaging, using recycled materials at new stores, working toward improved shipping efficiency, supporting renewable energy sources, and encouraging shoppers to use more reusable bags.

Harrah’s Bally’s and Paris Las Vegas resorts also earned a gold achievement award for its waste-cutting efforts that include recycling 75 tons of paper, 18 tons of plastic and nearly 13 tons of glass.

Click here for a list of the WasteWise and NPEP 20-09 award winners.