S.C. Recycling Businesses Recognized for Achievements

COLUMBIA, SC – September 23, 2008 – The South Carolina Recycling Market Development Advisory Council and the S.C. Department of Commerce recently recognized the achievements of five recycling businesses for their impact on South Carolina’s environment, communities and economy.  The Recycling Cluster Forum, held on September 8 in Greenville at the Michelin Conference Center, provided an opportunity for recycling businesses and industry to network and plan the strategic direction of the recycling industry.  The following businesses were recognized for achievements in recycling:

Best Small Recycling Business – A Recycling Center, Columbia

A Recycling Center was established in 2001 as a direct from the public collector of electronics and scrap metal.  In 2007, A Recycling Center recycled over 4.5 million pounds of metal and pumped more than $2.5 million into the local economy.  Between 2007 and 2008, the company doubled the size of its facility with the addition of a warehouse.  A Recycling Center is a strong believer in using post-consumer recycled content products and invites Columbia area businesses to utilize their paper recycling container.

Best Medium Recycling Business – Sloan Construction Company Inc., Duncan

Sloan Construction Company recycled approximately 18 million pounds of hot mix asphalt during 2007 saving almost 17 million pounds of crushed stone from being extracted from local quarries. This recycling effort saves 108,000 gallons of liquid asphalt per year, reducing dependence on foreign oil.  At each of its five asphalt plants, Sloan Construction purchased 360,000 gallons of both recycled and renewable fuels for a significant reduction on total foreign oil usage.

Best Large Recycling Business – CMC Steel of South Carolina, Cayce

CMC Steel of South Carolina is a steel mini-mill that recycles almost 700,000 tons of scrap metal a year into valuable new steel products for the construction industry.  In 1999, the company established a Solid Waste Task Force to assist with reducing the amount of waste being disposed by the mill.  Since the creation of this task force, CMC Steel of South Carolina has recycled over 1.4 billion pounds of scrap metal, 240,000 pounds of pallets, 33,000 pounds of cardboard and 12,000 pounds of #2 plastic bottles.

Best Industry Recycling Program – Alcoa Mt. Holly, Goose Creek

Alcoa Mt. Holly began in 1990 with the collection of office paper, newspaper, magazines, cardboard, aluminum cans and scrap metal.  Since then, collections have expanded to include batteries, printer cartridges, plastics and many other recyclable items.  The company currently achieves greater than 77 percent reduction in waste to landfill in the last five years and is working towards the corporate goal of zero land-filled waste.

Recycler of the Year – Milliken & Company, Spartanburg

Milliken & Company is one of the world’s largest privately held textile and chemical companies.  Milliken has taken aggressive action to meet its goal of zero waste to landfill worldwide and in 2007 reused or recycled 78 percent representing 71,552,000 pounds.  Worldwide, less than one percent of Milliken’s total waste stream is land-filled-only.  More than 99 percent of solid waste goes to beneficial applications such as reuse, recycling and boiler fuels.

In an effort to further grow the recycling industry and increase recycling among the state’s businesses, the Department of Commerce joined the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) in launching the S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program last year.  The program partners include three DHEC programs – the Center for Waste Minimization, Small Business Environmental Assistance Program and Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling – and the S.C. Department of Commerce’s Recycling Market Development Program.  The program offers free, confidential and non-regulatory assistance to businesses, non-profits, governments and other organizations.  Businesses interested in more information about the program can call 1-800-768-7348 or visit www.scdhec.gov/smartbusiness.