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EPA Recognizes Pennsylvania’s PPG Industries As One of 280 Top Environmental Performers in the U.S.

Release Date: 2/11/2002
Contact Information: Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

Donna Heron, 215-814-5113

PHILADELPHIA – U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Christie Whitman today announced that PPG Industries, Inc., in Meadville, Pa. was accepted as a new member in the National Environmental Performance Track program – along with 31 other companies nationwide.

Launched just 18 months ago, Performance Track now has 280 members who are recognized for their achievements, as well as for a commitment to top environmental management and to continuously improving their environmental performance.

PPG Industries’ Meadville facility has already reduced its solid waste by 25 percent between 1996 and 2000 and is now recycling more than 100,000 tons of glass annually. The facility has also reduced its use of packing materials by 300 tons in 2001. The company has now pledged to reduce its NOx emissions by replacing its conventional air/natural gas fired glass melting furnace with an oxygen/natural gas fired furnaces. NOx emissions will be reduced from 26.75 pounds per ton of glass produced to seven pounds per ton. Additionally, the new oxy-fuel furnace will completely eliminate hazardous waste slag from the process.

“Through Performance Track, EPA recognizes and rewards businesses and public facilities that demonstrate strong environmental performance beyond current requirements,” Whitman said. “While building a collaborative relationship with EPA, Performance Track participants realize environmental results beyond what could be achieved through regulation and enforcement alone. Their efforts will be of significant help as we look towards our ultimate goal: cleaner air, purer water and better protected land.”

The National Environmental Performance Track was designed by the EPA to recognize and encourage top environmental performers -- those companies and communities that voluntarily go beyond compliance with regulatory requirements to attain levels of environmental performance that benefit the environment, people and communities.

Building on previous innovation programs with states, businesses, and community and environmental groups, Performance Track emphasizes continuous environmental improvement, effective state/EPA relationships, and the need to inform and involve citizens and communities.

The newest Performance Track members have made environmental commitments to reduce water consumption, reduce emissions of particulate matter, increase recycling and reduce total solid waste. Members agree to meet these commitments within the next three years.

These new members add their efforts to the already substantial commitments made by existing members. So far, over their initial three years of participation, for example, Performance Track facilities are committed to reducing solid waste by 225 million pounds; lowering emissions of greenhouse gases by 26 million pounds; recycling or reusing more than five million pounds of materials; and reducing emissions of volatile organic compounds by 98,000 pounds.

Performance Track’s member facilities represent both small businesses and large companies from the chemical, electronic, automotive, dry cleaning and pharmaceutical industries, among others. The new members include additional facilities from companies already participating (such as Dupont, International Paper, IBM, 3M, and Rohm and Haas) as well as from companies new to the program (such as PPG Industries, Yamaha Music Manufacturing, and Marathon Ashland). They also include a public facility–NASA’s John C. Stennis Space Center.