| SKOKIE, Ill. – On March
19, 2007, the Holcim (US) Inc. cement plant in Theodore, Ala.,
received the Outreach Award from the Portland Cement Association
(PCA) and Cement Americas magazine as part of the
2006 Cement Industry Energy and Environment Awards. The award
was presented at PCA’s Spring Meeting in La Jolla, Calif.
“We are proud to be recognized for our efforts to enhance
community, employee, and government relations through innovative
communications and programs,” said Patrick Dolberg,
president and chief executive officer, Holcim (US) Inc.
The Holcim (US) Theodore plant worked in 2006 to make its
community a cleaner place to live and work. Employees participated
in the annual household hazardous waste recycling day and
in an event to dispose of electronic equipment in an environmentally
sound manner. The plant also participated in a clean up of
the Mobile Bay and its surrounding waterways. As part of the
Nineteenth Annual Alabama Coastal Cleanup Day, a worldwide
event where volunteers remove trash and debris from coastal
waters, Theodore employees organized an event for the Theodore
Industrial Canal where volunteers removed 3000 pounds of debris.
In addition to accepting the highest honor in the Outreach
category, the plant was recognized as a finalist for Environmental
Performance, the category it won for 2005.
The plant, located on the Theodore Industrial Canal, had
historically discharged as much as 88 million gallons of water
annually into the canal. In 2006 the plant utilized storm
water as cooling/conditioning water in its production process,
reducing its reliance on city water and eliminating all canal
discharges. Additionally, the Theodore plant increased its
use of alternative fuels by 53 percent and installed a Selective
Non-Catalytic Reduction system last October, leading to tremendous
success in emission control.
“Being a good corporate citizen has always been a top
priority for all of us here who work and live in Theodore,”
said Joe McFalls, plant manager, Holcim Theodore plant. “We
will continue making community outreach a top priority for
our plant.”
The Cement Industry Energy & Environmental Awards honor
individual cement facilities that exemplify the spirit of
continuous environmental improvement and support this spirit
with action. These plants go beyond government regulations
and local laws to ensure that their processes contributed
to making their communities better places to live and work.
Five categories are recognized: Outreach, Environmental Performance,
Land Stewardship, Innovation, and Energy Efficiency. Additionally
a special honor was presented to plants demonstrating excellence
in multiple categories.
“Cement companies take very seriously their responsibilities
to towns where their employees and customers live,”
said Charlie T. Sunderland, PCA chairman and CEO of Ash Grove
Cement Company. “The awards program recognizes these
ongoing efforts to continuously challenge manufacturing policies
and procedures to minimize our environmental footprint.”
A presentation will take place in Theodore in May.
History of the Awards
The awards program was created in 2000 by the Portland Cement
Association as part of its renewed environment and energy
strategic plan for the U.S. cement industry. PCA and Cement
Americas magazine presented the first Cement Industry
Environmental Awards in 2002 to the winners for 2001. The
awards honor activities conducted during the previous calendar
year, and the program is open to any cement manufacturing
plant in North America. Judges for the awards represent independent
groups such as PCA, Cement Americas magazine, the
Cement Association of Canada, World Resources Institute, the
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the World Wildlife
Fund.
About PCA
Based in Skokie, Ill., the Portland Cement Association represents
cement companies in the United States and Canada. It conducts
market development, engineering, research, education, and
public affairs programs.
# # # |