Conti's US plant achieves zero landfill status

Sumter, South Carolina — Continental Tire the Americas LLC said its tire plant in Sumter has achieved zero landfill status, meaning that all of the plant’s waste is converted into recycled products or used for energy, rather than turning it into trash.

Sumter is Conti’s second plant to achieve zero landfill status, the tire maker said, joining the factory in Mount Vernon, Ill., in that distinction.

Conti said it works with waste management company HWI Environmental Technologies to process and repurpose all waste materials generated at the plants.

“Continental believes in being a strong community partner, and contributing to a cleaner environment is a high priority across our entire corporation,” Craig Baartman, Sumter plant manager, said in a statement. “Our goal is to remain a zero landfill plant in partnership with our waste management team at HWI to make a positive, sustainable impact in the beautiful city of Sumter.”

In addition to the zero landfill initiative, Conti said it focuses on sustainability through conservation of water and energy within its tire plants. In the Sumter plant, cross-functional teams monitor water usage, steam leakages and other issues that could waste energy or harm the local environment. The plant employees are also educated about how to protect and preserve natural resources in and outside of the workplace, according to the company.

“Achieving zero landfill status at such an early stage in the life of a tire plant could not have been achieved without the support of the Sumter employees,” said HWI representative Toby Ross. “For our recycling programs to be successful, it takes diligence and discipline in separating materials and having a sustainability mindset, and the Continental Tire Sumter Plant has accomplished this.”

Conti said it averages 28 million pounds of recycled material per year at Mount Vernon.