IESI Reports Recent Environmental Achievements

FORT WORTH, Texas, Feb. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- IESI-BFC Ltd. (NYSE, TSX: BIN) (IESI-BFC), a leader in the U.S. solid waste industry, makes it a top priority to protect and enhance the environment.  In 2009, the company invested $16 million in programs designed to improve the environment in its communities.  These programs include wetland preservation at landfills, expansion of waste-to-energy programs, and construction of green LEED certified facilities.

"Our company made tremendous advances in our commitment to the environment over the past year," said Mickey Flood, President and Chief Executive Officer of IESI Corporation (IESI).  "We don't just talk about improving the environment.  We act, and the results are tremendous.  This is part of our commitment to our customers and our communities of achieving our goal of a greener environment."

IESI is proud to announce the results of its 2009 environmental programs. The marquis environmental accomplishment for IESI in 2009 was the construction and opening of what will be the first LEED Certified privately-funded single-stream material recovery facility (MRF) in the United States upon final certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. After only five months in operation, the IESI McKinney MRF processed more than 8,500 tons of material--more than tripling the output from the same timeframe in their previous facility. The new McKinney MRF is on target to achieve Gold LEED Certification.

"LEED certification is not an easy task to achieve, especially for a manufacturing facility," said Shawn Eiras, IESI McKinney district manager. "This first-of-its-kind facility in the country allows us to process material more efficiently, reduces the amount of contamination being diverted from the landfill, creates a pleasant working environment for our employees, and gives us a wonderful educational resource for our community."

The new 28,000 square-foot McKinney MRF contains numerous sustainable features including certified wood, recycled steel, low-flow water fixtures, and energy efficient machinery. Because the facility utilizes the single-stream process, customers can combine paper, glass, metals, cardboard and plastics all in one large container.

To build on IESI's expertise in constructing and maintaining LEED certified facilities, the company is currently working on a proposal in Austin, Texas to build a LEED certified recycling facility to efficiently service this thriving city.

"Austin is a progressive city and a leader in environmental conservation and innovation," said Flood. "Our McKinney MRF is able to take in and process recyclables from all across Texas, including Austin during the potential construction of a new state-of-the-art LEED certified MRF in that city. The citizens of Austin can be assured their recycling can be handled in an environmentally friendly manner in a LEED certified facility--a service only IESI can offer."

IESI's McKinney MRF is only one of many of the company's recent enhancements to its sustainable initiatives. In September 2009, IESI obtained LEED Gold certification for its Seneca Meadows Environmental Education Center in Seneca Falls, New York. This facility serves as an educational resource for children and adults by providing nature-based programming.  The education center is adjacent to a thousand-acre wetlands complex acting as an outdoor recreational area, complete with walking trails, boardwalks and wildlife overlook stations.

Also in New York, IESI operates a waste-to-energy (WTE) facility, where IESI captures methane gas, a landfill byproduct, and turns it into a sustainable energy source to generate electricity.  This plant currently produces 18 megawatts of electricity – enough energy to power approximately 18,000 homes.  Combined with other IESI WTE facilities, the company generates enough electrical power for approximately 21,000 homes.

IESI's sustainable efforts are also reflected in the amount of material it diverts from landfills across the country.  In 2009, IESI diverted more than 500,000 tons of material from landfills, including more than 300,000 tons of paper.  This is enough paper to save more than 5.2 million trees.  In addition, IESI's Seneca Meadows Tire Recycling center processed more than 1.5 million automotive tires for re-use.  All of these materials were sent to manufacturers for re-use resulting in the extension of the life of our landfills.

To educate communities about the importance of recycling and taking care of our environment, IESI also offers many learning opportunities for local schools and community organizations.  At numerous IESI community locations, activities include in-school programs, school field day programs, school literature distribution, student and adult site tours, public open houses, and guest lectures.

IESI communities also recognize the company's commitment to the environment.  Recently, IESI received the Large Business of the Year Award from the Pflugerville, Texas Chamber of Commerce.  Additionally, IESI has been awarded "Business of the Year" honors in McKinney, Texas; Iowa Park, Texas; Frisco, Texas; The Colony, Texas; and Seneca Meadows, New York. IESI has also received numerous awards and recognitions by environmental organizations including Keep Texas Beautiful and Keep America Beautiful.

"We feel it is extremely important to be active in our communities," said Flood.  "IESI is constantly involved in city-wide trash clean-up programs. Our employees are also active on environmental boards and commissions. We not only work in our communities, we live in our communities.  And we want to do our part to improve our communities."

About IESI Corporation

IESI is a full service solid waste management company founded in Justin, Texas in 1995 with just two trucks, two drivers and one and a half routes.  IESI now employs more than 2,700 associates and operates a fleet of more than 1,200 routed vehicles. IESI is a subsidiary of IESI-BFC Ltd., one of North America's largest full-service waste management companies, providing non-hazardous solid waste collection and landfill disposal services for commercial, industrial, municipal and residential customers in five provinces in Canada, and ten states and the District of Columbia in the U.S.  To find out more about IESI-BFC Ltd., visit our website at www.iesi-bfc.com.

SOURCE IESI Corporation

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED