LONG TERM ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY PLANS
The second long-term, ongoing project from the 1999 plan comes from Brown Creek Correctional Institution, which was recognized for its efforts by receiving the 1998 Governor's Award for Excellence in Waste Reduction. Brown Creek removes tons of waste from the waste stream each month. The institution is currently disposing of an average of nine tons of garbage per month, compared to an average 27.75 tons per month in FY 96-97. This has resulted in reducing the average monthly contract garbage cost from $1,637 in FY 96-97 to $679.47 per month in FY 98-99. Since the program began in November 1996, Brown Creek has reduced waste tonnage from 225 tons to 66 tons, and has saved thousands of dollars in landfill tipping fees. Another plus of the waste reduction program is the creation of 12 new incentive wage jobs for inmates in the recycling program.
New to Brown Creek's effort for the year 2000 is a cooperative venture with RKB Enterprises for the operation of an in-vessel composting unit to compost food residuals. The system has the capability to process 900 pounds of food waste per day, converting the material to a fine compost that will be used in the institution's two greenhouses and on the facility property.
Contact:
|