A transportation industry leader in sustainability efforts, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. (FCCC) was honored with a special recognition award from the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC). FCCC is the first company to receive this special recognition award. The DHEC special recognition award is reserved for businesses and individuals making significant, positive contributions to the environment, without seeking additional acknowledgment for its efforts.
In October 2009, FCCC became the first chassis manufacturer and first company within the trucking industry to reach Zero Waste to Landfill status in the United States, achieving its goal three months ahead of schedule. FCCC received the award during the second annual S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program luncheon and awards ceremony recently, at the Saluda Shoals Center in Columbia.
“Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation has gone above and beyond its personal environmental agenda, serving as a mentor to other South Carolina companies and schools,” says Amanda St. John, DHEC program coordinator. “FCCC exemplifies for other businesses how to achieve sustainability success. FCCC has reached the pinnacle of environmental responsibility within an incredibly aggressive timeline. The Department of Health and Environmental Control congratulates and thanks FCCC for its positive impact on our local state environment.”
The S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program is a partnership between DHEC and the South Carolina Department of Commerce. The program offers free, confidential nonregulatory services including site visits, technical assistance, market research and workshops. The S.C. Smart Business Recycling Program was established in an effort to help businesses implement recycling programs or expand existing programs. The program works to encourage businesses to implement sustainable business practices and report recycling percentages.
“Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation’s companywide commitment to manufacture products that reduce our carbon footprint and implement company regulations to reduce solid waste have improved sustainability within our manufacturing facility and company headquarters,” says Bob Harbin, president of FCCC. “FCCC is committed to lessening our impact on the environment, and the company is proud to receive the prestigious recognition from the Department of Health and Environmental Control for accomplishing Zero Waste to Landfill status.”
FCCC’s Zero Waste to Landfill program and comprehensive recycling efforts resulted in elimination of solid waste disposal throughout its entire facility. Joining an elite group of solid waste-free manufacturing facilities in the United States, FCCC went from disposing 250,000 pounds per month of solid waste in January 2007 to disposing zero pounds by October 2009. The FCCC facility recycles materials such as plastic, paper, aluminum, cardboard, metals, wood and nylon.
The company’s commitment to clean air technologies is in line with its parent company’s global initiative, “Shaping Future Transportation.” Launched by Daimler AG in November 2007 in Stuttgart, Germany, the initiative is focused on reducing category emissions pollutants, carbon dioxide and fuel consumption.
