Fort Wayne Campus Adds Bailer to Promote Sustainable Waste Management

The shared Superior Essex, Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire and Essex Brownell Fort Wayne, Indiana campus continues to smash its problems. In this case, the problem was an abundance of recyclables piling up.

That location had previously invested in a barrel crusher in its Chemical Processing Plant to address a supply chain issue stemming from COVID-19; the success of that decision has led the team to double down by adding an additional bailing system.

“Waste disposal has significantly evolved over time,” Austin Robinson , Global Corporate Sustainability Manager for Superior Essex said. “The primary focus used to be on convenience and immediate disposal without much concern for the environmental impact or the long-term consequences.

“As awareness has spread, so has the understanding of the negative effects of that approach.”

Now, with a widespread recognition of the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling materials the throwaway culture is being replaced by more sustainable practices.

Essex Furukawa has established a Waste Mitigation Hierarchy as part of its holistic approach to its Vision 2030 sustainability program. That initiative played a crucial role in shaping more responsible waste management and environmental stewardship. It also actively contributes to and promotes sustainable waste management in a global effort to reach Zero Waste to Landfill thresholds at all of our global locations.

Collectively, the Fort Wayne campus is actively promoting and participating in recycling programs and supporting the circular economy model by reusing materials whenever possible.

Specific to bailed cardboard, Greg Bosk, an Energy Technology Engineer for Essex Furukawa, said that this recycling effort is just one step in a comprehensive program. He added that recycling cardboard is highly beneficial for several reasons:

·????? Conservation of Resources: Recycling cardboard helps conserve natural resources, particularly trees. Cardboard is made from wood fibers, and recycling it reduces the need for fresh raw materials. This, in turn, helps in preserving forests and wildlife habitats.

·????? Energy Savings: Producing new cardboard from recycled materials requires significantly less energy than creating it from scratch. Recycling cardboard reduces the energy required for processing and manufacturing, resulting in lower carbon emissions.

·????? Reduction of Landfill Waste: Cardboard makes up a significant portion of municipal solid waste. By recycling it, the volume of waste going to landfills decreases, which extends the lifespan of landfills and helps prevent environmental issues associated with overflows.

“We have become more in-line with the current, global shift towards more responsible waste management,” Bosk said. “Integrating these principles into operations and corporate culture, will significantly contribute to creating a more environmentally conscious and sustainable future.”