Toyota's Zero Landfill Factory (since 2004)

IndustryWeek (7/8, Selko) – The Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing facility (TIEM) in Columbus, Ind. facility, which is part of Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A., Inc. The 870,000 square feet factory, which includes a National Customer Center and training center, has been a Zero-landfill facility since 2004. IndustryWeek asked Ron Allen, Environmental Engineer of Toyota Industrial Equipment Manufacturing (TIEM), and Dixon Churchill, Environmental Health and Safety manager of TIEM how they were able to achieve the zero- land fill status…

What advice would you have for other companies who are just beginning their "green" journey?

It's beneficial to partner with the best recycling company in the area. Request that the recycling company do a waste audit of your facility, and allow them to do their job by handling the recycling for you. Getting buy-in from a company's associates also is key to a successful recycling program. Employees are the biggest advocates for the pushing forward environmental initiatives.

Seek out quantifiable measurements and third-party validation that your company is on the right track. TIEM, for example was the recipient of Indiana's Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence. This award acknowledged Toyota's program for implementing an environmental management system that reduced volatile organic compounds emissions by 33%, reduced hazardous air pollutants by 80%, cut energy consumption by 24.4% and reduced natural gas consumption by 65%.