Earth-friendly team: American employees do their part to help environment

Special to The Tribune
Published: August 26, 2008

American Buildings Company (ABC) doesn’t just help other companies build sustainable buildings.

Their commitment starts even closer to home. The company’s new Green Team, consisting of associates from the company’s main office, transportation department and shop, is helping to conserve the Earth’s natural resources by reducing, reusing and recycling the materials that the metal building company uses at their headquarters.

The Green Team worked diligently to create procedures and strategically place recycling containers around the headquarters’ office and plant.  This effort led to the recycling of six tons of paper, cardboard, aluminum and plastic in just the first month of the program. Adding the amount of recycled scrap wood (2’X4’s, 4’X4’s, crates, etc.), and the total amount recycled by ABC is 16 tons.

“Many people do not realize that most of what they throw away is recyclable,” said Paul Hartgrove, quality assurance coordinator and ABC Green Team Leader.  “It is amazing how much of a difference one company can make on the environment.”

“We value the communities in which we operate and recognize the importance of doing our part to preserve the environment…for our employees, their families and everyone we come in contact with,” said Ray Napolitan, President of American Buildings Company.

“It is incredible to watch a group come together with such passion and dedication, particularly with such astonishing results.”

The recycling program has not only been beneficial to the community around the ABC headquarters, but it has also reduced the company’s overhead cost, for trash pick-up and transportation. 

In the past, disposing of scrap wood could cost ABC up to $4,000 a month. Through these new initiatives, ABC anticipates savings of up to $40,000 just in dumping fees and transportation costs.

ABC’s parent company, Nucor Corporation, alone recycles over 20 million tons of steel per year, making it the largest recycler in the world. Steel is the most recycled material in the world.