Waste Management take 'Green Company of the Year' award

As the 21st century has progressed, more and more of an emphasis has been placed on environmentally friendly practices.

And as recycling has become more important, one company in East Peoria has been there to adapt as the “green” technology as evolved.

Waste Management, which has its local offices based in East Peoria, was named Green Company of the Year in 2011 by the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce for its efforts to keep the community and region environmentally friendly.

“Waste Management is such an innovative company,” said Rick Swan, executive director for the East Peoria Chamber of Commerce. “They’re always looking to better the environment, which enhances the quality of life in the area.

“A clean town is a nice town. They’re always coming up with new and creative ideas,” he added.
While Waste Management is best known for collecting garbage in the area, its recycling initiatives are what truly sets it apart.

“(Waste Management) rolls out new programs all the time,” said Robert Cole, facilities manager for the city of East Peoria. “Their green initiative is definitely advanced when compared to other Waste Management-type companies.”

In addition to providing dumpster services and garbage collection for city facilities, Waste Management also works with the city to reduce its carbon footprint.

An example of the city taking advantage of a recycling opportunity through Waste Management is with fluorescent light bulbs. Instead of throwing out its fluorescent light bulbs, city officials save and mail them to a recycling center where the glass is crushed, the phosphorus is taken out and the ends are recycled.

“Have they always offered that program? No, but they saw that there was an opportunity to help the environment, advance their business sector and have people utilize their recycling services,” Cole said.

One of Waste Management’s newest recycling initiatives is currently front and center outside the main entrance of the EastSide Centre. A new solar-powered compactor can be utilized by visitors to the athletic facility. This compactor runs on solar power and compacts its waste as it fills up so more garbage can fit.

“(Recycling) is very important for us because we are a focal point for the community,” said Dan Cunningham, director of the Department of Tourism, Special Events and Facilities for East Peoria. “Thousands of kids pass through the doors and whenever they walk in, they see those (receptacles) and it reinforces the value that recycling is important.”

On top of their work with the city, the Waste Management facilities serve as a drop-off point for large electronic equipment. Computers, televisions and other old electronics can be brought to their building to be safely recycled.

According to Cole, the company is also taking strides toward doing more with the raw recycling of plastics. Glass recycling was also mentioned as being a future project.

Outside of the recycling efforts that Waste Management is currently a part of, the company is also looking to help with the city’s future developments. East Peoria officials have been talking with Waste Management workers about making the construction on the new downtown development as “green as possible.

“We’ve worked with them from the planning and designing of the new downtown to what could be done during construction as far as on-site recycling,” Cole said.

Both Cole and Cunningham did not mince words when talking about the important role that Waste Management plays in the community.

“It’s very important for future generations to have the availability and assistance from Waste Management to assist taxpayers of the community for reducing and reusing,” Cole said. “The city government strives to reduce its carbon footprint and recycle more, and that practice is what our mission statement is all about.”

Cunningham agreed with Cole’s sentiments.

“Waste Management has been pivotal in the city’s recycling efforts,” he said. “Not only do they provide us the resources to do it, but they also provide us with the educational tools that we need as a community.”