PLANO'S GREEN PIONEERS
The Pioneer Community Home on Avenue K is an unassuming senior housing complex comprised of around 60 units. Visitors may be surprised to see the energy of its residents and learn how they have taken steps to live green. Administrators, Shelby Jones and Candy Hilton were very enthusiastic when contacted by the City’s Recycling Coordinator with the potential to save money on their trash disposal costs and begin a recycling program. Residents are as diverse as they are ebullient in getting on the path to green.
During the recent recycling kick-off event, the diverse population of 30 plus meeting attendees asked many questions to ensure they understood the program. Resident Chinese and Spanish translators were in attendance to communicate and clarify concerns about the new single-stream recycling program. At the kick-off, residents received a blue apartment-sized recycling bin for ease of carrying their recyclables to a recycling center located on each of the three floors. Allied Waste, their chosen recycler, donated refreshments to add a festive flair to the kick-off. The City’s coordinator provided promotional items and posters depicting what could and could not be properly recycled in the recycling program. Residents were happy to know that most of the containers from the refreshments—soda bottles and cracker boxes could be immediately placed in the recycling containers.
When adding recycling, the administrators decided to convert the large gondolas housed in the waste centers from trash collection to recycling. They added two 95-gallon trash carts to accommodate the trash which will be greatly reduced. To further promote recycling, the administrators renamed the “trash rooms” recycling centers and decorated each center’s door with earth-themed appliqués. Pioneer Home was able to reduce their trash pick up of a single 8 yard trash container from twice a week to once a week when adding the same size recycler with once a week service. This change not only assists in preserving natural resources but the Home is able to save over $46 per month translating into a $550 annual savings. A contracted service crew which previously collected the trash three times per week will now collect and transport both trash and recyclables to the appropriate 8 yard exterior containers on site.
In addition to recycling, Pioneer Home residents can be proud of the vegetable garden they have planted in front of their complex. With the help of a Master Composter many of the residents enjoy the fruits of their labor in a custom-designed, irrigated garden. What’s next on the road to green for these senior pioneers?
CITY OF PLANO EMPLOYEES PLEDGE TO LIVE AND WORK GREEN IN PLANO
The City of Plano launched a new and improved recycling program for City of Plano facilities on April 20, 2007. The kickoff included a live interactive game show and gave fifteen facilities the opportunity to engage the crowd at city hall via Web cast. Following the game show, Christopher Day, Commercial Recycling Coordinator, shared with the audience the details of the improved recycling program. Mr. Day noted that the changes to the city’s program were necessary “to keep pace with the improvements we are asking our business and residential community to make.”
Elements of the new program included a commitment from the custodial contractor to dispose of recycled items correctly. The City of Plano’s new custodial contract encompasses many environmental attributes and most notable are: the use of Green Seal products for general purpose cleaning and the proper collection and disposal of recycled items. Another important step for the program called for standardized receptacles and signage. An internal Web site was developed as a resource for employees to report problems or to sign up and take the “Green Team Pledge.” The Green Team Pledge lists the accepted behaviors and actions a City of Plano employee should exhibit when making environmental choices at work.
The goal of the recycling program is to have a citywide recycling rate of 40% by fall of 2008. To reach that goal many buildings will need to start or improve their existing recycling program. To date, over seven hundred employees have taken the pledge to work green in Plano. That commitment has shown merit as six buildings have started or improved recycling at their facility. Most notably, City Hall is in the process of lowering its trash disposal schedule by 66%! The City of Plano stands to save $25,000 per year once the 40% goal is reached and cooperation from employees and custodians is imperative to achieve success. Plano has asked many business and homeowners to improve their environmental footprint on this region, and with these changes, Plano will lead by example.
SAM'S CLUB #6255 EMBRACES ORGANIC RECYCLING
Sam’s Club #6255 in north Plano has experienced significant savings with its organics program implemented this past April. Club manager, John Comer, embraced the organics program and has demonstrated effective management by 
overseeing and educating his employees with the program. Employees of Sam’s utilize the City of Plano’s 95 gallon recycling carts for collection and are pleased to divert that material for a soil amendment application. Sam’s is diverting approximately 13 tons per month saving the company about $5000 yearly. Sam’s purchases biodegradable liners for the carts which keeps the program clean and reduces the amount of time required to maintain the carts. John Comer states “the best way to have success with this program is to keep it easy”. By purchasing biodegradable bags and having direct contact with the program, John makes it easy for his employees to participate in a green program and help reduce his operating costs.
Sam’s has recently elevated consumer awareness of environmentally preferred products. Sam’s has been pushing compact fluorescent light bulbs, solar landscape lighting and its many organically grown food products. Sam’s has also worked with vendors and distributors to reduce packaging and avoid unnecessary hauls by its trucks. In addition, Sam’s is helping lower CO2 emissions by having its truck drivers comply with its no idling policy. Sam’s also sends in plastic bags inside its baled cardboard to be recycled and ultimately used as feedstock to make more plastic bags.
Organic recycling is merely an extension of Sam’s sound environmental corporate philosophy. By participating in the City of Plano’s organics program, Sam’s store #6255 is furthering its mission to minimize waste and preserve natural resources. Congratulations to Sam’s and kudos to John Comer for championing the environmental and recycling efforts at his location.
CUSTER ROAD TRANSFER STATION
In 2002, the North Texas Municipal Water District member cities developed a Regional Solid Waste Management Plan, which recommended that the Custer Road Transfer Station Facility be expanded. The subsequent Transfer Station Evaluation Study acknowledged issues leading to increased waste being taken to the Custer Road facility. It recommended expanding throughout, thereby delaying the recommendation of building an additional transfer station facility in the Frisco area. Further, the Study recommended expansion of the Custer Transfer Station through construction of a new 10,880 square foot facility adjacent to the 
existing building and conversion of the existing facility to an “open top loading” design. This would effectively increase the capacity of the Transfer Station from a current maximum throughput of 750 tons per day to a maximum throughput of 1900 tons per day when completed.
Mitchell Enterprises Inc. was selected as the general contractor. Site work began December 2006 and is slated to conclude by April 2008. The first phase was the demolition of large amounts of concrete. To date, Mitchell has recycled 100% of the concrete totaling 68 tons.
SUNBELT RENTALS RECYCLES
In February, 2006, Plano’s Nations Rent on Archerwood Road, now a part of Sunbelt Rentals began a single-stream recycling program. The company which rents out a variety of industrial equipment ranging from tools to forklifts, was throwing away lots of cardboard and was concerned that their trash container which was scheduled for once a week service was often overloaded!
The City’s commercial recycling coordinator performed a waste stream analysis of what was being thrown away. It was determined that their waste stream contained 75% of recyclables and only 25% trash! Working with Sunbelt’s waste management company, Oakleaf Rose and based on the City’s recommendations, Sunbelt’s general manager Tony Lones quickly implemented the change. He replaced an 8 yard trash dumpster with a 3 yard trash dumpster and added an 8 yard recycler. The recycler could accommodate their considerable volume of corrugated cardboard, office paper, magazines, trade catalogs and newspapers. Team members were happy to learn that their #1 and #2 plastic bottles as well as glass, aluminum, tin and steel containers could be recycled in the new recycler, as well. This recycling program—called single-stream recycling because all acceptable recyclables can be collected in a single container, is the same as Plano’s comprehensive residential recycling program.
In addition to the recycling program, Sunbelt which offers team members free coffee, encouraged employees to provide their own coffee mugs versus using the non-earth friendly Styrofoam cups they had previously been using.
Lones indicates, “It’s great to make a positive impact on the environment and it didn’t cost us anything. “ As a matter of fact, their single-stream recycling saves the store about $140 annually—a little change which perhaps can be added to their coffee fund!
THE BAVARIAN GRILL -– the “Wurst” of the B.E.S.T.!
Jurgen Mahneke, owner of Plano’s Bavarian Grill says, “It’s easy being green!” It’s been over a year since he implemented recycling at his restaurant. After receiving a visit from a City recycling coordinator and liking what he heard, he decided to participate in both the single-stream recycling program (which mirrors Plano’s residential recycling) as well as the City’s unique organic recycling program. The organic food waste is transported to the Regional Compost Facility outside of McKinney, Texas and through a carefully controlled process is made into Texas Pure compost—a nutrient rich soil amendment. This program represents true “full circle” recycling!
The restaurant which offers authentic Bavarian food in a fun atmosphere has been ‘green’ for over a year. In March 2006, the restaurant was able to reduce its 8 yard trash dumpster which was serviced twice a week to a 4 yard container with once a week service. Mahneke placed an 8 yard recycler container at less than half the cost of an 8 yard trash container! The restaurant is able to recycle cardboard, tin and aluminum containers, all types of paper products as well as #1 and #2 plastic bottles.
In addition to the single –stream recycling, Mahneke implemented the organic recycling at his restaurant. The City’s recycling coordinator trained his staff in single-stream recycling one weekend and organic recycling the next. For the organic program, Bavarian Grill collects a variety of organic materials ranging from prep trimmings, fruits, vegetable, wax-coated drink containers, meat, fish and bones, bread and coffee and coffee filters. By taking these items out of his restaurant’s waste stream, the restaurateur could ensure additional waste disposal cost-savings.
Before his recycling efforts, the Bavarian Grill’s monthly waste disposal costs were $216.00. After reducing his trash service to once a week and switching to a smaller trash container and adding a recycler, Mahneke’s trash costs were reduced to around $123.00! The City collects his organics six days a week at no cost. The Bavarian Grill saves over $90 per month or over $1000 annually (not including costs of organic cart liners). The Bavarian Grill has been known since 1993 for good food and good fun—now with it’s recycling efforts, it can be known as one Plano’s B.E.S.T.—Businesses Embracing Sustainability Together!
AUSTIN COMMERCIAL CONTINUES TO STRIVE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE
Austin Commercial, a nationally recognized building and design general contractor, recently won the City of Plano’s 2006 Environmental Star of Excellence Award for Outstanding Construction and Demolition Recycling on the construction of Children’s Medical Center located at 5050 Hedgecoxe Rd. in Plano, Texas.
Breaking ground November 2005, the project includes 58 acres with a building consisting of over 300,000 square feet. Management strategies for construction debris have been in place since the onset of the project. Austin Commercial has diverted an amazing level of debris from the landfill. Currently, 844.55 tons of debris including wood, concrete, steel and office waste has been recycled from the site compared with the small amount of trash generated, 205.5 tons. Currently, the overall recycling rate is 80%. Although this percentage is only to-date and does not reflect the course of whole project, it is a great start to the overall 85% goal the company has set for itself.
Karen Hargis will be spotlighting The Children’s Medical Center building project with updates throughout the course of construction highlighting Austin Commercials recycling and waste minimization strategies. You can read more about this project and other environmental activities on the City’s Commercial Recycling Web site at www.planocommercialrecycling.com or in the US Green Building Council North Texas Chapter newsletter.
GREEN BUILDING FOR PLANO
When officials of John Paul High School in Plano decided to expand its facilities with a sizable addition, the decision to renovate the old Alcatel building next door was made and design plans began in January 2004. After a thorough inspection of the building and inventory of the interior contents it was apparent that most of the fixtures, lighting and plumbing were still in excellent condition and it made great business sense to salvage all that could be reused in the new building.
The old building was equipped with a Siemens automated temperature control system, valued at $2 million dollars, reconfigured for the new building, and operates from a central control room utilizing only those chillers needed to moderate temperature within the specified area for a highly energy efficient comfortable atmosphere. A new outside air unit was installed to pre-filter and circulate fresh air through the system improving indoor air quality.
In addition to these insightful ideas, the building also employed other sustainable practices, such as;
Chief facilities manager, Jim Austin, declared, “The cost came down to $65.00 per sq. ft. versus $175.00 per sq. ft. the building would have cost had we not taken advantage of the resources already here and available. Even with the added cost of the storage containers and warehouse rental, salvaging and reusing the building components instead of buying new was a colossal savings to the project.”
John Paul High School is an excellent example of environmental forethought, innovation, and ingenuity that can occur when project leaders conspire to a common goal, converting an existing building to a new level of efficiency and function.
SMALL CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS CAN HAVE A BIG IMPACT
Although larger commercial construction projects generate significantly more debris, smaller projects can impact our landfill too. In addition, the recent increase in landfill disposal costs has prompted many developers and contractors to implement a waste management plan. As examples, we highlight two sites in Plano.
First is the Plano Housing Authority’s new headquarters’ building. Located at the southwest corner of 18th and G Avenue, the project recycled 6,640lbs of wood debris. Project Manager, Jack McKinney of McKinney Construction Company, was impressed to hear that the City of Plano recycled wood into compost. As for the owner, Executive Director Helen Macey believes that public projects should set the example and was glad to participate.
Next is the Custer Crossing Retail Center at the southwest corner of Custer and Hedgcoxe. When contacted, Steven Bode, VP of Stone Canyon Construction, was thrilled that the City of Plano had a C&D recycling program. His concern for the environment compelled him to get involved. Steven recycled 139 tons of concrete and, as an added bonus, saved over $4000 on his trash disposal costs.
Both project managers worked with the City of Plano’s Commercial Diversion Coordinator to ensure minimal disruption of their job requirements. Waste containers were staged to eliminate any spacing problems. Signage and training was made available in both English and Spanish. But perhaps most valued was the coordination provided between the job sites and the recycling services. The City of Plano’s Coordinators have the expertise and resources to make recycling a sound business decision.
SAFETY-KLEEN GEARS UP FOR RECYCLING
Safety-Kleen, headquartered in Plano, has been an environmental solutions provider for over thirty eight years. Safety-Kleen’s mission statement is “To be the leader in providing responsible cleaning and environmental solutions that meet the needs of our customers and the communities we serve; while conserving natural resources, protecting the environment and serving our constituencies.”
In an effort to further that mission, Terri Krause, Human Resources Manager of Safety-Kleen, contacted a City of Plano Commercial Diversion Coordinator in March to inquire about expanding their office paper recycling program. An evaluation of Safety-Kleen’s waste stream revealed they had the potential to reach a diversion rate of 45 to 60 %.
Safety-Kleen kicked off single-stream recycling in style as several members of their management team and Plano Mayor, Pat Evans, were in attendance. Mayor Evans commended Safety-Kleen for their commitment to waste minimization in the parts washing industry and for their efforts to recycle in a corporate environment.
Fred Florjancic, Safety-Kleen CEO and President, believes single-stream recycling is more than a corporate responsibility – it’s a duty. Florjancic states, “Collectively, it’s the duty of the entire business community to implement environmentally-sound practices.”
Safety Kleen’s new recycling initiative has already been a success. After the implementation of single-stream recycling, Safety-Kleen was able to reduce the number of hauls on their trash compactor from once a week to biweekly service. The reduction in trash service and the savings from recycling will save Safety-Kleen over $3000 per year. Single-stream recycling is helping Safety-Kleen further their mission to conserve natural resources and protect the environment.
SHEPTON HIGH SCHOOL RULES RECYCLING
Shepton High School has developed an effective comprehensive recycling program. The single stream recycling program was started in 1999. In 2001, they increased the effectiveness of the program and were able to increase their recycling diversion rate from 11% to 33%. Every classroom, office and hallway has a recycling container available for paper, plastic bottles and aluminum cans. Shepton staff and students team with the custodial staff to coordinate daily recycling and collection. To further advance recycling at Shepton there is a teacher recycling committee and student Youth for Environmental Sanity (YES) Club that model recycling for the community.
Shepton began recycling organic material in their kitchen and cafeteria in 1999 as well. The organic containers are monitored by teachers and students during all four lunch periods. Students are encouraged to help monitor recycling containers by awarding them with community service credit. To further expand the organic recycling program an organic container was placed in the teachers lounge.
Data gathered at the end of the 2005-2006 school year showed that Shepton High School was diverting an average of 5.1 tons (15.7 cubic yards) of organic material per month to the City of Plano’s compost facility. In the single stream program, approximately 17 tons (172 cubic yards) per month was being diverted from the landfill. Shepton’s diversion rate for single stream only is 33%. Total diversion (single stream and organic combined) is 36.5%. This is an increase of 25.5% from 2000 – 01 school year.
This strong effort was a critical component in receiving the highest award in the City of Plano’s Secondary In-School Recycling Incentive Program. In addition, Shepton High School won the 2006 Outstanding Single Stream Recycler – Secondary School category at the Plano Environmental Community Awards and have been nominated for an Environmental Vision Award with the North Texas Corporate Recycling Association. The City of Plano also recognizes Shepton as an Environmental Star of Excellence Program participant, a program that recognizes organizations that take an active role in supporting the focus of environmental stewardship, reducing waste and litter, increasing recycling and site beautification, and helping to educate local community citizens.