Southwire Holds Second Annual Pollution Prevention Awards & Workshop

[From the Source - Spring/Summer 1996]

On Thursday, April 18th, Southwire Company held a pollution prevention workshop and awards day to help increase the awareness of pollution prevention and recognize employee efforts during the past year. "Our Pollution Prevention effort is critical to expanding our business domestically and globally. We are committed to a strategy of eliminating pollution and waste from our manufacturing operations," said Win Hill, Director Corporate Environmental Management. "Each year we meet to share our successes and recognize those who demonstrate excellence in this effort."

The morning session was highlighted by presentations from Steve Avary of Zep Manufacturing, and Tony Knick and Frank Hollowell of Synthetic Industries, who shared their pollution prevention / waste minimization success stories. Other presentation topics were about waste cost accounting and ISO 14000 international environmental management standards. In the afternoon, six Southwire facilities discussed their pollution prevention implementation processes and results achieved to date. Southwire established a corporate waste minimization / pollution prevention program in 1994. The Southwire facilities then implemented the program through the use of employee Corrective Action Teams (CAT). For 1995, 15 Southwire facilities submitted waste minimization reports to be evaluated for the awards day. Criteria used to judge the reports included evidence of employee involvement, wastestream assessment, evaluation of pollution prevention options, technology transfer, and measurable results.

The six facilities selected as finalists were: Carrollton Utility Products Plant and Carrollton Building Wire Plant, Carrollton, Georgia; NSA, Hawesville, Kentucky; Southwire Company Starkville Plant, Starkville, Mississippi; Southwire Specialty Products, Osceola, Arkansas; and Southwire Machinery Division, Carrollton, Georgia. After the six facility presentations, Southwire presented 1995 CEO awards for pollution prevention. Carrollton Building Wire Plant and NSA were selected for Achievement Awards. The Excellence Award went to the Southwire Machinery Division for their outstanding achievement in pollution prevention.

Seventy Southwire managers representing all U.S. manufacturing operations attended. Representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Georgia Environmental Protection Division (EPD) were also in attendance. "Today shows how important recognition and awards are to inspiring employees to do their best," said Bob Kerr, P²AD Director. "The effort extended by the Southwire plants and the results obtained far exceeded the value of the awards. Congratulations to all the participants for their outstanding efforts."