DECEMBER 17, 2009 - COVANTA WINS CONNECTICUT GREENCIRCLE™ AWARD
Hartford, CT, December 17, 2009 -- Covanta Southeastern Connecticut Company (SECONN) was awarded the state’s 2009 GreenCircle™ Award yesterday for its efforts to improve the state’s environment.
Challenged by the company’s Clean World Initiative to make a difference in their community, Covanta SECONN staff formed a “Green Team” at the facility two years ago. One of the Green Team’s efforts included partnering with The Nature Conservancy to improve the habitat for local flora and fauna at the Poquetanuck Cove Preserve.
“To be able to take on control of invasive plants where they are found in the preserve is a difficult task, and Covanta’s help during 3 separate work parties has provided approximately 120 hours of much-needed and appreciated assistance,” wrote David Gumbart, Assistant Director of Land Management for The Nature Conservancy, in a letter dated November 20, 2009. “The Conservancy is pleased to have a relationship with Covanta Energy, and we look forward to continuing our collaborative efforts in the future.”
In addition to Covanta’s work with The Nature Conservancy, the GreenCircle™ award was based upon other environmental projects, including SECONN’s adoption and clean up of a stretch of Route 12 and participation in numerous household hazardous waste collection days to educate the public about mercury recycling.
“We have a great group of employees here at SECONN. They’re always willing to help out in the community,” said John Vinson, Facility Manager and lead volunteer.
Established in 1998, the DEP’s GreenCircle™ Award program recognizes businesses, institutions, individuals, and civic organizations who have participated in energy conservation, transportation, pollution prevention or recycling related activities or projects that promote natural resource conservation or environmental awareness. To date, more than 750 awards have been granted to businesses, institutions, individuals and civic organizations for their involvement in over 1,100 projects.
Covanta SECONN operates the Energy-from-Waste facility for the Southeast Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority (SCRRA) and serves the towns in Southeastern Connecticut. The facility processes about 690 tons per day of solid waste, generating enough clean, renewable energy to power 12,000 homes.
About Covanta
Covanta Energy is an internationally recognized owner and operator of large-scale Energy-from-Waste and renewable energy projects and a recipient of the Energy Innovator Award from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Covanta’s 44 Energy-from-Waste facilities provide communities with an environmentally sound solution to their solid waste disposal needs by using that municipal solid waste to generate clean, renewable energy. Annually, Covanta's modern Energy-from-Waste facilities safely and securely convert more than 20 million tons of waste into more than 9 million megawatt hours of clean renewable electricity and create over 10 billion pounds of steam that are sold to a variety of industries. For more information, visit www.covantaenergy.com.