Bridgestone/Firestone plant gets EPA program acceptance

Wilson, North Carolina - Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire LLC's Wilson tyre manufacturing facility has been accepted into the US Environmental Protection Agency's National Environmental Performance Track programme.

The Wilson plant is now the company's seventh and final US tyre plant to share this recognition, the tyre maker said. Four facilities --located in Des Moines, Iowa; Warren County, Tennessee; Aiken County, South Carolina; and Oklahoma City -- joined the highly selective programme as charter members in 2000. BFS said its Bloomington, Illinois, and LaVergne, Tennessee, facilities joined the programme in 2003 and 2005, respectively.

The EPA created the voluntary NEPT program to reward and recognise companies that show a commitment to environmental performance that goes above and beyond current requirements and that have a proven track record of improving environmental performance over time, BFS said.

In order to qualify for the NEPT program, the Wilson facility had to fulfill the following requirements:

- A good record of compliance with environmental regulations;

- A public commitment to specific environmental performance goals;

- Annual public reporting on progress toward the goals; and

- An integrated system for improving compliance and environmental performance.

The plant's established goals for the next three years include improving several manufacturing processes to increase energy efficiency and reduce waste generation, BFS said.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)

Press release from Bridgestone