News Releases from Region 04

Odebrecht USA, in Coral Gables, Fla. Among 14 WasteWise Participants Recognized for Reducing Waste

ATLANTA - Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognized Odebrecht USA, in Coral Gables, Fla. as the WaterWise "Small Business Partner of the Year." Nationally, 14 WasteWise participants, that include research institutes, retailers and local governments, were recognized. The WasteWise program helps organizations and businesses apply sustainable materials management practices to reduce municipal and industrial wastes.

WasteWise participants reported preventing and diverting a total of nearly 7.6 million tons of waste from being disposed in landfills or incinerators in 2013. This amount of waste diversion represents a reduction in greenhouse gases equivalent to taking more than 2.3 million passenger vehicles off the road for one year.

Organizations can join WasteWise as a partner, endorser, or both. Partners demonstrate how they reduce waste, practice environmental stewardship, and incorporate sustainable materials management into their waste-handling processes. Endorsers promote enrollment in WasteWise as part of a comprehensive approach to help their stakeholders realize the economic benefits to reducing waste.

Launched in 1994, WasteWise has become a mainstay in environmental stewardship and continues to evolve to address tomorrow's environmental needs. For more information about the WasteWise Program, visit: http://www.epa.gov/waste/conserve/smm/wastewise/

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