Mission: Possible

Sustainability efforts have a positive impact

Memphis-based Del-Nat Tire Corp., one of the nation’s leading independent providers of automobile, agriculture and commercial truck tires and tubes, helped save the equivalent of 221 trees, 55 cubic yards of landfill space and 91,000 gallons of water through the recycle program of office and warehouse waste at its facility in South Memphis in 2012.

The information was provided in an annual sustainability report from Recycle Solutions, one of the largest recycling companies in the Southeast. According to the report, Del-Nat’s recycling program has kept more than 75 percent of potential waste out of local landfills.

The sustainability report advised that Del-Nat recycled four tons of plastic and 13 tons of paper from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2012.

In addition to the trees, landfill space and water, Del-Nat’s recycling effort also saved the equivalent of 4,955 gallons of oil and 75,096 kilowatt hours of energy.

Del-Nat, at 2365 Texas Drive, began its recycling effort in 2009 when it was spending more than $10,000 per year to have its trash removed. Realizing there must be a better way to protect the environment and save money, Del-Nat’s managers contacted Recycle Solutions to develop a long-term plan to assist it in achieving close to a zero-waste operation.

Mark Huber, operations manager at Recycle Solutions, developed a new process that allowed trash to be efficiently sorted, moved, and recycled without Del-Nat having to commit additional resources. When the program began in 2009, DelNat was putting 38 cubic yards of trash in local landfills.

Huber said, “Del-Nat is an excellent role model for Mid-South businesses. Without dedicating additional resources they have improved our environment and saved valuable resources to improve stakeholder value.

“If more companies realized that making this change is feasible, it would have a significant impact on our natural resources locally.”