Each year, the Broward County Environmental Protection and Growth Management Department recognizes several local businesses for their outstanding environmentally-responsible business practices. Each business receives an Emerald Award trophy for their exceptional efforts in protecting the environment.
The presentation of trophies by the Broward County Board of County Commissioners to the winners is held annually at a special ceremony; followed by a brief reception:
Tuesday, April 28, 2009 1:30 p.m.
Broward County Governmental Center
Broward County Commission Chambers, Room 422
115 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
To learn more about what the trophy winners accomplished, view their case studies below, or for a downloadable pdf, click here to go to the media kit page.
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Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida
Category: Pollution Prevention/Hazardous Waste Reduction - Large Business
To read a case study click here (PDF 320 KB)
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Mark Sutton, General Manager of Watson Laboratories, Inc. - Florida (center) receives the Emerald Award Trophy from Vice Mayor Ken Keechl, District 4 (left) and Mayor Stacy Ritter, District 3 (right) |
For more information contact:
Tiffany Holmes, EHS Manager
Watson Laboratories
4955 Orange Drive
Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314
954 585-1454
Email: tiffany.homes@watson.com
Web Site: www.watson.com
Business Size: Large
Nature of Business: Pharmaceutical Manufacturer
Watson Laboratories environmental accomplishments:
- Created an Environmental Green Team
- Created "Lights Out" campaign
- Process changes in cleaning process resulted in reduction in fugitive emissions of 67% while increasing production
- This translates to 20 tons per year reduction in emissions of isopropyl alcohol
- Another process change led to reduction of 1,020,000 gallons of wastewater annually
- New partnership enabled them to divert 1000 square yards of carpet from landfill, to be recycled, repurposed or downcycled
- Installed biofuel generators that produce 30% less Nitrogen Oxides (green house gases) and 50% less particulates than diesel generators
- Installed (10) 20 HPW Variable Frequency Drives on cooling towers to reduce power requirements
- Installed a timer on warehouse lights saving 320 Metric Tons of CO2
- Converting water treatment chemical to biodegradable alternative, reducing energy and water consumption
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Gardner Foreign Auto Parts
Category: Recycling - Small Business
To read a case study, click here (PDF 304 KB)
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George Gardner, Senior, Owner, (center) receives the Emerald Award Trophy from Vice Mayor Ken Keechl, District 4 (left) and Mayor Stacy Ritter, District 3 (right) |
For more information contact:
George Gardner, Sr.
Gardner Foreign Auto Parts
2090 NW 21st St
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
954 972-9407
Email: buzz@gardnerautoparts.com
Web Site: www.gardnerautoparts.com
Business Size: Large
Nature of Business: Gardner Foreign Auto Parts is an automotive salvage yard that specializes in the recycling and sales of auto parts. Automotive recyclers make it easy for consumers to find clean used parts for all types of vehicles. They play a valuable role by rebuilding, recovering, and reselling usable parts, and recycling materials that cannot be reused in their present form.
Gardner Foreign Auto Parts environmental accomplishments:
- Recycles
o 416,000 pounds of Steel (crushed flat bodies)
o 129 Used batteries
o 114 gallons of Antifreeze
o 725 gallons of Used oils (motor, transmission, rear end and brake fluid)
o 60 gallons of parts cleaner/solvents
o 56 pounds of Freon
o 440 pounds of Catalytic converters
o 600 waste tires
o 1800 pounds of Aluminum
o 400 pounds of Copper
o 3000 pounds of Newspapers, magazines, office paper, bottles and cans
- Recycles alloy wheels, air conditioning condensers, radiators, turbo coolers, bumpers and aluminum molding
- Member of the National Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) and is the only ARA certified auto recycler south of Orlando
- Only "Green Yard " in Broward County, and only one south of Orlando, that is certified by Florida DEP
- Use a Gas Recycling "gas buggy" to extract gasoline from wrecked cars for reuse in company delivery trucks.
- Accept used oil and batteries from the general public to prevent them from entering the waste stream.
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Florida Coca-Colas Bottling Company - Hollywood, FL
Category: Recycling - Large Business
To read a case study click here (PDF 328 KB)
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Mayor Stacy Ritter, District 3 (far left) and Commissioner Diana Wasserman-Rubin, District 8 (far right) present Stephen Osmena, Maintenance Manager and Norman Zgonce, Operation Manager the Emerald Award Trophy |
For more information contact:
John Terry, Director of Operations
Florida Coca-Colas Bottling Company - Hollywood, FL
3350 Pembroke Rd
Hollywood, FL 33021
954 985-5040
Email: johterry@cokecce.com
Web Site: http://www.coca-cola.com
Business Size: Large
Nature of Business: Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. (CCE) is the world's largest marketer, distributor and producer of bottled and can liquid non alcoholic refreshment. Coca-Cola Enterprises sells approximately 80 percent of the Coca-Cola Company's bottle and can volume in North America and is the sole licensed bottler for products of the Coca-Cola Company in Belgium, continental France, Great Britain, Luxembourg, Monaco and the Netherlands.
In 2008, CCE initiated a recycling program and recycled 87 percent of all waste generated in the facility
- Materials recycled include: cardboard, plastic, stretch wrap, chipped strapping, office paper, aluminum cans, drums/totes and metal
Process Improvements to reduce waste include:
- Installation of two air (versus water) rinses on production line that saved more than 1.9 million gallons of water annually
- Installation of high output energy efficient lights
- Installation of energy efficient evaporator tower used for refrigeration
- Removal of two high energy pieces of equipment
- Conversion from wet line lubrication to dry line, that reduced water use to about 30,000 gallons weekly
- Elimination of four closure coders, reducing 112 liters of hazardous materials
- Installation of laser print technology for bottle codes, eliminated use of ink and solution
- Installation of waterless urinals
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Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care
Category: Green Products/Practices- Small Business
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Mayor Stacy Ritter, District 3 (right ) presents the Emerald Award Trophy to Christian Villegas and LeeAnne Hudson, Co-owners of Chris and Lee Mobile Auto Care |
To read a case study, click here (PDF 301 KB)
For more information contact:
Lee Ann Hudson, Co-Owner
Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care
5379 Lyons Rd, #130
Coconut Creek, FL 33073
954 482-0329
Business Size: Large
Nature of Business: Chris Villegas and LeeAnne Hudson are role models for making the best of a bad situation while remaining mindful of the environment and helping others. These attributes have earned them Broward County's 2008 Emerald Award in the "Small Business - Green Products/Practices Programs" category.
The company's environmental achievements include:
- The failing economy resulted in unemployment for the couple, but it didn't stop them from advancing. They did research to find a niche business and the end result is Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care.
- The auto care industry typically places a high demand on water. This company doesn't. Chris & Lee Mobile Auto Care is "waterless," using cleaning products that are certified as biodegradable by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
- To get the job done, cleaner is sprayed on and wiped off with a microfiber towel, which can be washed and reused. Based on EPA estimates, up to 116 gallons of water are saved per car wash.
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Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc.
Category: Green Products/Practices- Large Business
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Mayor Stacy Ritter, District 3 (right ) presents the Emerald Award Trophy to Diana Dobin, Senior Vice President and Ken Koneck, Public Relations Manager of Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc. |
To read a case study, click here (PDF 302 KB)
For more information contact:
Diana Dobin, Senior Vice President
Valley Forge Fabrics, Inc.
2981 Gateway Dr
Pompano Beach, FL 33069
954 971-1776
Email: ddobin@valleyforge.com
Web Site: www.valleyforge.com
Business Size: Large
Nature of Business: Valley Forge Fabrics, founded in 1977 is a privately held; family owned and operated company in Pompano Beach. They are the largest producer of decorative fabrics for the hospitality industry. They have offices in Dubai, Italy, Hong Kong, Shanghai, and Australia. All fabrics sold by Valley Forge are designed for use in the hospitality and commercial industry. Each textile exceeds ACT (Association of Contract Textiles) standards for their specific end uses.
As part of their sustainability initiative, they created a line of fabrics called FRESH - Fabrics Redefining Environmental Standards for Hospitality. FRESH products are made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester - from PET plastic beverage bottles. Due to the company's strict adherence to their own performance standards (which are substantially higher than the industry expectations as well as ACT requirements), the fabrics will perform at their premium for longer than the expected 5-7 years for upholstery and 18-24 months for bedding. Longevity is a major tenant of sustainability and an important part of the life cycle view. Virgin polyester which has been the fiber of choice for the hospitality industry, for its performance qualities, is derived from petroleum. Recycle symbol 1 plastic/ PET/plastic bottles are also derived from petroleum. The decision to make polyester for FRESH bedding from used plastic bottles saves precious natural resources. Just as vital, Valley Forge finds a home (not a landfill) for plastic bottles that are discarded by consumers. Due to the amount of product Valley Forge manufactures - millions of yards annually - the savings of petroleum is very substantial.
In addition, there is substantial resource savings in the manufacturing process itself when compared to more traditional non-recycled polyester products. The yarn costs for recycled fibers are more expensive than non-recycled material. Valley Forge is committed to taking very small margins to keep the price points competitive and further the use of these products through its worldwide distribution. Other products in the FRESH line include an innovative award-winning fiber from Eucalyptus blended with Cotton bedding product. The environmental story for the Valley Forge LIVING FRESH Eucalyptus product is magnified by the fabulous hand and high end appeal. Valley Forge also is the only textile company to date with and established reclamation program for their customers to use to recycle the fabrics at the end of their use. Until the FRESH program, hotels never had a way to recycle fabric. By recycling FRESH fabrics, Valley Forge will literally save millions of pounds of waste from entering landfills each year. The USGBC's LEED certification green building program is recognized as the paramount guideline of environmental building protocol in the USA. FRESH products may contribute towards LEED points under various LEED systems. As sustainable technology continues to improve, Valley Forge is working with engineers and chemists to continue to innovate in the area of textile sustainability.
Other ways that Valley Forge Fabrics is showing environmental responsibility:
- By purchasing four hybrid company vehicles, they saved 217,055 pounds of CO2 per year
- They recycle light bulbs, plastic, glass, aluminum, fabric, paper, and cardboard achieving in excess of a 50% recycling rate.
- Donated 20,431 pounds of fabric to area schools, churches and reuse centers in 2008.
- Voluntary recycling by employees include batteries, corks, toiletries, light bulbs, bottle caps, electronics, Crocs (shoes) and candy wrappers.
- Conduct seminars with employees, suppliers, and customers about sustainability and the environment.
- Educate and participate with local community and schools to inform and advice on Sustainability issues.
- Shipments of fabrics and electricity use are Greenhouse Gas Offset through Renewable Choice Energy.
- Honored by Sustainable Florida with a best practice award in the Large Company category in 2008.
- Various Industry awards for product innovation, sustainability and leadership have been achieved for their work with FRESH and on behalf of environmental initiatives.
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JM Lexus
350 W Sample Rd
Margate, FL 33073
To read a case study, click here (PDF 302 KB)
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Mayor Stacy Ritter, District 3 (right ) presents the Emerald Award Trophy to (from left) Brad Schafer, Fixed Operation Dirctor; Don Beddia, JM Lexus Facilities Manager and Special Projects Coordinator; Bobby Glaize, Body Shop Director; and Jim Dunn, Vice President and General Manager of JM Lexus |
Category: Innovative Procedures/Process Improvements - Large Business
For more information contact:
Janet Simoneaux, Environmental Director
JM Family Enterprises, Inc.
Mailing Address:
P O Box 1160
Deerfield Beach, FL 33442
954 420-4731
Email: Janet.simoneaux@jmfamily.com'
Web Site: www.jmlexus.com
Business Size: Large
Nature of Business: Auto Dealership and Repair
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