Recognized as Minnesota Waste Wise Leader

ST. PAUL, MN – Landscape Structures Inc. (LSI) has been recognized as a Minnesota Waste Wise Leader for its outstanding waste reduction and recycling efforts, Minnesota Waste Wise announced. The award will be presented Oct. 5th at the Waste Wise annual meeting at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in Chaska.

“Landscape Structures is a great example of how Minnesota businesses can save money by reducing waste, increasing recycling and reducing energy consumption,” said Mercede Urban, Minnesota Waste Wise executive director. Minnesota Waste Wise is an affiliate program of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, assisting businesses on voluntarily waste reduction efforts that lead to increased bottom lines.

LSI, since implementing its recycling and waste reduction program, estimates it has prevented 5,700 tons of solid waste from being deposited in landfills.  In the process, it saved 2.3 million gallons of water, 660,000 kilowatt hours of electricity and 330,000 therms of natural gas.  “Not only do we receive compensation for many of the materials we recycle,” said Jenny Christie, controls engineer for LSI, “but we have also eliminated disposal fees in the process.” 

“At LSI, we never stop asking questions,” she continued. “If we have waste going out the door, we are asking ourselves: ‘Can we recycle this?  How can we reuse this in our process?  What can we do so that we don’t create this waste in the first place?’  And it starts from the ground up; it’s part of the culture of the organization.  Employees are encouraged to ask the questions and empowered to make the changes that make a difference.”

LSI ‘s corporate mission statement is to enhance children’s lives by fostering and creating inspiring play experiences while honoring the environment.  “Our environmental program is more than a corporate mandate to reduce, reuse and recycle,” Christie said. “It’s every employee striving to make the improvements that will benefit the company and the environment.  And our environment is not just Delano, Minn., it’s the world that we live in and that our children’s children will live in.”

LSI has saved money, too, through its efforts.  Minnesota Waste Wise has helped the company identify areas for improvement and offered assistance to integrate waste reduction goals, which leads to cost savings, Christie said.

The Minnesota Waste Wise Leader Award was created in 1994 to recognize members for exceptional commitment to waste prevention, reuse and recycling.  All applicants are required to show at least 18 months of success in two out of eight waste reduction categories.  Categories include source reduction, materials exchange, recycling, energy and/or water conservation, and the incorporation of waste products in manufacturing.

Minnesota Waste Wise helps businesses find ways to reduce, reuse or recycle under the philosophy that “less waste is smart business for a better environment.”  This service is available to all businesses in Minnesota.  For information, call (800) 821-2230 ext. 662. or visit the Web at www.mnwastewise.org.