Bendix Facilities Earn Zero-Waste-To-Landfill Status

Source: Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems announcement

ELYRIA, Ohio – Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC has reached a major milestone – diverting an all-time high of 99.8 percent of total waste in 2020 – toward its company-wide goal of achieving zero-waste-to-landfill at multiple of the company’s North American facilities, validated through a detailed self-certification program.

As part of a comprehensive plan to advance the company’s environmental and sustainability agenda, fewer than 15 tons of material company-wide were sent to landfill, while the remaining 9,185 tons were either diverted, recycled, or reused. The 15 tons of waste sent to landfill this year represent a 97 percent decrease from 2019 in the amount of materials landfilled – more than a 500-ton reduction.

Nine Bendix locations, as well as the Elyria corporate headquarters, have achieved the company’s official Zero Waste to Landfill Certification. This means the sites are consistently diverting 100 percent of both industrial and nonindustrial wastes from landfill, through recovery, recycling, composting, or another diversion method or technology, including waste-to-energy. The locations utilized innovative technologies, processes, and tools, and the engagement of employees to drive reduction or elimination of wastes.

“Achieving zero-waste-to-landfill isn’t easy – it takes effort to build and maintain – but it’s a reflection of our deep commitment to sustainability in our operations,” said Maria Gutierrez, director of corporate responsibility and sustainability. “In developing our zero-waste-to-landfill validation program and achieving it across almost all Bendix locations, we are doing our part to protect the environment on behalf of our communities and our employees. This is a remarkable accomplishment built on many cultural and technological changes now in place across our business that all of us can take pride in.”

Bendix committed to achieving zero-waste-to-landfill as part of the sustainability efforts in place across its North American facilities. The company has pledged its support for the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 17 overarching environmental objectives adopted by UN member states to promote prosperity while protecting the environment. One of these objectives – Responsible Consumption and Production (encompassed within SDG 12) – is at the core of Bendix’s zero-waste-to-landfill efforts.

According to Gutierrez, the company credits its strong Environmental Management System and corporate values as key contributors in developing and achieving the zero-waste program. Begun in 2010, Bendix’s evolving waste management process and ISO 14001 certifications have helped provide the framework for continuous improvement.

Facilities Achieving This Milestone

As of late October, the corporate headquarters and all but two Bendix manufacturing locations have achieved the company’s official Zero Waste to Landfill Certification. They are now able to spotlight that status by displaying the program’s official Zero Waste to Landfill banner, signaling the site has successfully completed the certification and verification requirements. The current and always growing list includes:

• Acuña, Mexico, manufacturing operation (three of four plants)

•            Bowling Green, Kentucky, plant
•            Elyria, Ohio, corporate offices
•            Huntington, Indiana, manufacturing campus (five plants)

Each location used a combination of multiple technologies and cultural changes, in place across Bendix, to achieve the certification. These include implementing the company’s Sustainable Food Service Policy that drove the elimination of plastic water bottles and Styrofoam products; launching new processes, such as centralized waste collection and spent material audits (aka dumpster dives); and utilizing new or innovative technologies, such as waste-to-energy (WTE) technologies, a composting program, and the use of food waste digesters.

The entire announcement can be viewed by clicking HERE.