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Bristol, Conn. Municipal Waste Facility Makes Positive Environmental Commitments

Release Date: 03/09/2007
Contact Information: Dave Deegan (617) 918-1017

(Boston - March 9, 2007) - A municipal waste combustor facility in Bristol, Connecticut is continuing to make significant commitments to a cleaner environment by reducing energy use and hazardous waste generation in its renewable energy production.

Covanta Bristol, Inc. has joined EPA’s National Environmental Performance Track -- a partnership program recognizing facilities that set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond their legal requirements. Performance Track members must have internal systems in place to manage their environmental impacts, engage in local outreach about their performance, and publicly report results.

Covanta Bristol, Inc. is a municipal waste combustor processing 650 tons of solid waste per day into renewable energy. The facility serves the waste disposal needs of fourteen surrounding towns and communities. They have committed to reduce nitrous oxide emissions by about 5 percent and installing emissions controls on 3 vehicles in local school bus fleets which will reduce fine particle emissions by an estimated 90 percent, all between 2006 and 2009. Fine particles pose a significant health risk because they can pass through the nose and throat and lodge themselves in the lungs, which have been known to cause lung damage and premature death. They have also demonstrated past commitment to emission reduction by reducing particulate matter releases between 2003 and 2005 by and impressive 62 percent.

Covanta Bristol Inc. joins four other new Performance Track members making positive commitments in New England. Overall, there are 46 companies that have made Performance Track part of how they do business in New England.

“EPA applauds the significant commitments made by these New England businesses to a cleaner and healthier environment,” said Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “Because these facilities have strong environmental records and are willing to publicly commit to continuously improve their environmental performance, they are making a real difference.”

Since the 2000 inception of this facility-based rather than company-based program, Performance Track membership has grown to 470 members in 46 states and Puerto Rico, and those members have made 1,500 commitments to benefit the environment in both regulated and unregulated areas. To date, Performance Track members have collectively reduced their water use by 3.5 billion gallons, reduced their greenhouse gas emissions by 88,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, and conserved more than 14,000 acres of land while helping to protect their local and national environment.

Forty-seven of the new members have committed to reduce their waste generation over the next three years; 37 facilities plan to reduce energy use; 25 facilities pledge to reduce their water use; and 17 facilities have committed to reduce their air emissions. Sixteen have committed to focus on EPA-defined regional and national environmental priorities.

More Information:

EPA’s Environmental Performance Track program in New England (epa.gov/ne/ems/performtrack.html)

New Performance Track members (epa.gov/performancetrack/round13PTFacilities.htm)