Ford Motor Co.'s (IW 1000/21) North American world headquarter facilities now send no waste to landfills, the company announced on February 10.
The facilities - located in Dearborn, Mich. Oakville, Ontario, and Santa Fe, Mexico – are diverting more than 240,000 pounds of waste from landfills annually.
“Our global waste strategy commits Ford to reducing waste-to-landfill, and we have made great progress at our headquarters, manufacturing plants, offices and research facilities,” said Andy Hobbs, Ford Motor Co.director, Environmental Quality Office.”
The move toward achieving landfill-free status began more than a year ago at each of the North American headquarters. Employees were instructed to separate waste and recycle when possible. In Mexico, food waste is used as compost, while U.S. and Canadian headquarters send refuse to waste-to-energy facilities. Site managers also moved toward more eco-friendly food containers in cafeterias.
Ford has reduced the amount of global waste sent to landfills 50% per vehicle over the last five years. Fifty-nine Ford facilities no longer send any waste to landfills – this includes all Canadian and Mexican manufacturing plants.
Ford cut global water use 30% per vehicle from a 2009 baseline, reaching its goal two years ahead of schedule in 2013. Since 2011 Ford has worked to trim energy consumption 25%, and is on track to meet that goal this year.
