GM says 43 of its plants are 'landfill free'

[Mr. Wyndham]

General Motors Corp. said today that it plans to transform more half, or about 80, of its manufacturing plants around the world to nearly waste free status by 2010.

In recent years, GM transformed 10 of its manufacturing plants to what it calls “landfill free” status and on Friday, the company added 33 additional plants to that list, bringing the total to 43. GM describes “landfill free,” as reusing or recycling 96% or more of the waste generated by the manufacturing process.

“As one of the largest companies in the world, GM has the ability to make a significant positive impact on the environmental issues facing the globe,” said John Buttermore, vice president GM powertrain. “We’re making significant progress in reducing the impact of our worldwide facilities, and their impact on the environment.

Over the past 10 to 15 years, other automakers – including Toyota and Subaru – have also designated their plants as landfill free, and the automotive industry in general has made strides towards reducing the environmental impact of manufacturing plants.

Ken Knight, executive director of General Motors’ Worldwide Facilities Group, said that over the past 10 to 15 years there has been a tremendous cultural shift within his company about how waste generated by the manufacturing process is viewed.

“Under the old view, it was a necessary evil,” Knight said. “But in the mid-1990s, this view started to shift and we began to view our waste streams as precious resources which were simply out of place.”

GM said that over 3 million tons of waste materials will be recycled or reused from its plants this year. GM said it will recycle about 630,000 tons of scrap metal, 8,000 tons of wood, 7,500 tons of cardboard and 1,200 tons of plastic.

http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../80905030/1014

This can only be viewed as a good thing, imo. In fact, it may even save them money; instead of buying more materials, and decent portion of that could be this recycled stuff.

[DGthe3]

Originally Posted by Dragoneye

This can only be viewed as a good thing, imo. In fact, it may even save them money; instead of buying more materials, and decent portion of that could be this recycled stuff.

Wonder what % of their plants are now 'landfill free'. Also, I've never understood how throwing stuff away was better than recycling it.

[headpunter]

it also helps the green image gm is trying to give now too which is important for the sheepish public who is concerned about global warming

[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by DGthe3

Wonder what % of their plants are now 'landfill free'. Also, I've never understood how throwing stuff away was better than recycling it.

I always figured recycling was always better.