Green
Awards
Little forethought and
planning can show that business and the environment
can, not only coexist but also flourish. One can
emulate the example of Amoco Chemical, USA, producer
of more than 1.5 billion pounds of PTA per year. PTA
is the basic material for producing polyester. The
company sponsored ecological studies to know the
impact of their plant on the wetland and forested
tracks, even before they laid the foundation of their
plant. They replanted native species, provided year-round
feeding plots for the wildlife. They now regularly
monitor the impact of their plant on the safety of
employees and the environment. Recently, Amoco
Chemical developed the first full-scale anaerobic
process, in which biodegradation can occur without
oxygen. In a program developed by Amoco Foam Products,
they've been putting their foam cafeteria trays in
specially marked recycling bins. Amoco Chemical is
helping to lead the way in developing new technology
for recycling polystyrene foam. In 1992, their
Alabama plant won President's Safety Award for a
second time.
Sterling Fibers, Inc.,
producer of acrylic fibres, rather than just dispose
of the biological treated weak wastewater stream,
used the same for spray irrigation. The initial
concern of the pollution control officials that this
effluent might contaminate the ground water in the
area was unfounded. There was no negative
environmental impact from the spraying, on the other
hand this proved beneficial to enhance the
surrounding plant life on its property. Tests showed
the 70,000 pine trees on the 80- acre site produced
approximately twice the pulp of similar trees growing
elsewhere in the area. Groundwater monitoring of the
spray irrigation site has put all concern of
contamination to the ground water to rest. The
company hopes that spraying will help Sterling Fibers
achieve the National Pollutant Discharge System goal
of zero discharge a goal to which the company is
committed to accomplish by the year 2000.
