VOLUME 62

 SUSTAINABILITY CONNECTION 

 

Thunder is good.  Thunder is impressive, but it is the lightning that does the work.

 

-Mark Twain

 
As a customer of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, we value your feedback! We would appreciate it if you would take 5-10 minutes to fill out our customer service survey. You may choose to remain anonymous, and your responses will be used to help determine what we are doing well and what opportunities we have for improvement. This survey may also be found on our website at any time.

 

Click Here to take the survey.

  

Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network, NADO-Sponsored National Webinar Set for April 16

 

                                                               

Last month, after months of previews and case studies advertising a new publication, Cumberland Region Tomorrow announced the release of Navigating Our Future: Best Practices Case Studies from the Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network, a joint publication with the National Association of Development Organizations. Today, we are proud to announce that registration is open for an upcoming national webinar exploring the publication and its offerings to local and regional leaders.

 

Please join representatives from the Tennessee Regions Roundtable Network and NADO to discuss the newly released publication highlighting best practices occurring in Tennessee.  The webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 from 1-2:30 pm CST.  You can register online for the webinar at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/955450874.

 

A new publication from the Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network, sponsored by the NADO Research Foundation, highlights innovative community and economic development projects being implemented throughout Tennessee. Stories presented from the state's diverse regions and communities demonstrate collaborative leadership strategic partnerships, and implementation-funding techniques that local government, planning, and community and economic development leaders can put to use in their own communities.

 

The new publication, Navigating Our Future: Best Practices Case Studies from the Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network, is the first project for Cumberland Region Tomorrow's Surdna Foundation grant to build out the operations of the Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network.

 

More than 20 case studies are featured in the publication demonstrating a wide range of projects in urban, suburban, and rural Tennessee, including regional initiatives, neighborhood and corridor revitalization, historic preservation, multimodal transportation investments, entrepreneurship and small business development initiatives, tourism strategies, and others.

 

Along with the Surdna Foundation, the publication was funded in part under awards to the NADO Research Foundation from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Highway Administration. For more information, contact one of the five Steering Committee members from the lead regional partner organizations:

 

  • Memphis and Shelby County Office of Sustainability: John Zeanah, Program Manager for the Mid-South Regional Greenprint and Sustainability Plan, 901-576-6601
  • Southwest Tennessee Development District: Joe Barker, Executive Director, 731-668-7112
  • Cumberland Region Tomorrow: Bridget Jones, Executive Director, 615-986-2698
  • Southeast Tennessee Development District: Beth Jones, Executive Director, 423-266-5781
  • Knoxville Transportation Planning Organization: Amy Brooks, Senior Transportation Planner and Project Manager for PlanET, 865-215-4001

 

You can download Navigating Our Future: Best Practices Case Studies from the Tennessee Regions' Roundtable Network at www.cumberlandregiontomorrow.org. Please contact Bridget Jones, CRT Executive Director at bridget@cumberlandregiontomorrow.org or 615-986-2698 for additional information.

 

 

KAB Recognizes Local Company

 

The Cleveland Banner recently reported on a local company doing things the environmentally friendly way. 

               
Leaders from the community, government and education attended the Cleveland/Bradley Keep America Beautiful 2014 Solid Waste Breakfast at the Chamber of Commerce with their appetites in tow. Chamber of Commerce Director of Existing Industry Programs, Lisa Pickel, presented the "White Glove Award" to United Knitting. She explained the award is given to an individual, civic or nonprofit organization, school club, business or industry that "exemplifies excellence" in its effort to protect the environment.
 
United Knitting was established in 1984 as a manufacturer of performance stretch fabrics. The company has since risen to become a world leader in its field. Garments produced by United Knitting are used by such companies as Under Armour and North Face. Pickel said the plant has increased five times is original footprint.
 
"United Knitting's commitment to the environment is well deserving of the White Glove Award," Pickel said. "In 2013, United Knitting replaced all of their lighting in the facility to make a more energy efficient system." The company recycles 92 percent of all waste. An additional 99 percent of the fabric waste is also recycled. Pickel added, "This could not be accomplished without the support of all their employees in the plant." United Knitting Vice President Margaret Schenck accepted the award.
 
"I would like to thank TVA and Cleveland Utilities for encouraging us to replace our lighting with a great program that made it possible for us to save energy now," Schenck said. "And I would also like to recognize Steve Roberson and Bill Harrington, who headed up that conversion and kept us on track." Guest speaker Director of City Schools Dr. Martin Ringstaff said he started off his educational career as a biology and environmental science teacher.
 
"What we talk about at Keep America Beautiful and all of the Earth Day celebrations is very close to my heart," Ringstaff said. "I don't get to talk about those topics as much anymore, because I have sort of shifted gears and went through the administration ranks." Instead of presenting the city school system's energy management and recycling program, he invited energy education specialist Paul Ramsey to the front. He explained the Cleveland Board of Education decided five years ago the school system needed to be a better steward of the taxpayer's money by way of energy management.
 
According to Ramsey, comfort is still the number one priority. Although, he said, what makes one person comfortable may not make it for another person. The temperature tends to rest around 72 degrees through the cold and hot months. "This is a behavior-based effort," Ramsey said.
 
"Our custodians, our teachers and our administrators all play a part in the program. It is not just me. It is not just what I do. It is what we do as a team." According to statistics provided by Ramsey, the school system has saved $1,322,560.58 through energy-efficient practices since 2008. The total cost avoidance of the system currently rests at 3.72 percent.
 
Over the course of the 2008-09 school year, the system used 13, 203,726 kilowatt hours and paid $1,226,799. Four years later, the number of kilowatt hours has been reduced to 8,705,298. The cost for the 2012-13 school year was several hundred thousand dollars less at $935,759. Cleveland Middle School, Mayfield Elementary, Arnold Elementary and Cleveland High School reportedly cost less to heat and air condition.
 
Ramsey said the lower numbers are a product of the geothermal HVAC systems used at each of the four schools. He said the energy conservation impact is equivalent to:
  • A total of 2,711 passenger cars not used for one year
  • A total of 386,326 tree seedlings grown for 10 years

Individuals and companies interested in mapping their own energy management program can do so through Greenquest Energy. Ringstaff said a common question is where the saved money is placed. "That is absorbed. That is never really real money. It is just cut back in different line item amounts. It is not like we get a check back for the money not used," Ringstaff said.

 

"It is the same as when you cut back your energy bill." Continued Ringstaff, "But it does keep our budgets from having to pick up that money."

 

 

Household Hazardous Waste Collection Event

                     
 

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation's mobile household hazardous waste collection service will be in Giles, Loudon and Washington counties on April 5.

 

"Our household hazardous waste mobile collection service provides the people of Tennessee with a safe, environmentally friendly way to dispose of unwanted household chemicals and other potentially hazardous waste at no cost," Environment and Conservation Commissioner Bob Martineau said.

 

"This service travels across the state holding collection events in local communities, and we encourage all Tennesseans to take advantage of the opportunity to utilize it."

 

On Saturday, April 5, any Tennessee resident may bring his or her household hazardous waste to the following locations. (Note that hours listed indicate the local time for events).

 

  • Giles County - Giles County Highway Department at 400 Bennett Drive in Pulaski from 8 a.m. until noon. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Dan Watson at (931) 424-7035.

 

  • Loudon County - Loudon County Justice Center at 12680 Highway 11 West in Lenoir City from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Gordon Harless at (865) 988-7558.

 

  • Washington County - Daniel Boone High School at 1440 Suncrest Drive in Gray from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. The local contact for this HHW collection event is Charles Baines at (423) 753-1652.

 

Since the program's inception in 1993, over 310,000 households have properly disposed of more than 20 million pounds of material.  HHW material is considered flammable, toxic, reactive and/or corrosive and should not be placed with regular garbage.

 

Typical items to dispose of include cleaning fluids, pesticides, mercury thermometers and thermostats, fluorescent bulbs, lithium and button batteries, aerosols, adhesives, medications, brake fluid, swimming pool chemicals and paint thinner.  Items not accepted include ammunition, explosives, alkaline batteries, paint, electronics and medical waste. Business waste from conditionally exempt small quantity generators is now acceptable for a fee and by appointment. To request a price quote and schedule an appointment, please contact 615-643-3180.

 

Many counties and municipalities meet the needs of local residents by providing collection of batteries, oil, paint, antifreeze and electronic scrap - or BOPAE as it is sometimes called.  When handled correctly, these BOPAE materials are minimally hazardous, but inappropriate for collection at household hazardous waste events.  Contact your local city or county solid waste department to find BOPAE collection sites in your area.

 

When transporting materials to the site, place containers in sturdy boxes lined with newspaper to prevent spills and cross-contamination in the trunk of a car or back of a truck. Be sure to keep materials away from children and pets.  Materials should be kept in the original container whenever possible.  If not, place the waste in a plastic jug with a secure lid and label its contents.

 

For more information on the household hazardous waste mobile collection service, please call 1-800-287-9013 or visit http://www.tn.gov/environment/solid-waste/solid-waste_household-waste.shtml.  

 

Big News From Waste Management

                       

Waste Management (NYSE:WM) of Middle TN is set to launch its new fleet of natural gas-powered collection vehicles and open a new compressed natural gas (CNG) retail fueling station at its 1428 Antioch Pike location that will increase access to the clean-burning fuel.

 

Waste Management currently operates 25 CNG-powered collection vehicles in Middle TN and will be rolling out 45 more CNG-powered collection vehicles in the area by 2017. The public fueling station will refuel Waste Management's local fleet and sell CNG to commercial fleets as well as to retail consumers with CNG-equipped vehicles.

 

"Since natural gas-powered collection trucks run cleaner and quieter, we've made the commitment to use more in our local operations and support them, and our community, by opening a public CNG station," said Tim Wells, Waste Management's Area Vice President. "We are dedicated to providing our customers with outstanding service while doing business in the most sustainable manner possible."

 

"Every diesel truck we replace with natural gas reduces diesel consumption by an average of 8,000 gallons per year, reduces our dependence on foreign oil and cuts annual greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 22 metric tons," added Dwight Robinson, Waste Management's District Manager of the Antioch facility.

 

CNG is one of the cleanest fuels currently available for use in heavy-duty trucks. Its use reduces particulate matter emissions by 86 percent, carbon monoxide emissions by 80 percent, nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 32 percent, and carbon dioxide emissions by 25 percent. As an additional benefit, CNG trucks run quieter than their diesel equivalents.

 

The self-service Clean N' Green Fuel station will be open 24/7 and will accept major credit cards as well as PetroCard fleet cards. The construction of the Antioch CNG facility was 100% funded by Waste Management and PetroCard.

 

"We commend Waste Management for investing in CNG trucks because they will deliver cleaner air and create less noise in our neighborhoods," said Duane Dominy, Metro Council Representative for the 28th District. "This is a major initiative for our city's sustainable future, a great opportunity to improve our quality of life, and will provide a resource for our citizens."

 

The Antioch fueling station and local CNG vehicles are one element of Waste Management's larger sustainability efforts. In 2007, the company set a goal of both reducing fleet emissions and increasing fuel efficiency by 15 percent by the year 2020. The company exceeded that goal eight years ahead of schedule, saving 350 million gallons of fuel and reducing 3.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide by 2012.

 

ABOUT WASTE MANAGEMENT

 

Waste Management, Inc., based in Houston, Texas, is the leading provider of comprehensive waste management services in North America. Through its subsidiaries, the company provides collection, transfer, recycling and resource recovery, and disposal services. It is also a leading developer, operator and owner of waste-to-energy and landfill gas.to-energy facilities In the United States. The company's customers include residential, commercial, Industrial, and municipal customers throughout North America. To learn more information about Waste Management, visit www.wm.com or www.thinkgreen.com.

 
Did You Know?
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This newsletter was published by the TDEC Office of Sustainable Practices. If you have any suggestions for content please submit your information to this address.
 
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TDEC Office of Sustainable Practices