Camarillo Manufacturer Named Recycling Leader by Waste Board

CAMARILLO—If the City of Camarillo's "wasteline" looks leaner these days, it may be because a local computer parts manufacturer's efforts to trim and tone have proven tremendously successful. Such trash-reducing efforts earned the Imation Corporation the distinction of being one of California's Top 10 waste busters for 1997, an honor recognized by the California Integrated Waste Management Board, which presented company officials with a Waste Reduction Award Program "WRAP of the Year" plaque today.

The Waste Board, the state's primary recycling agency, gives the award annually to businesses demonstrating a propensity for not throwing things away, instead recycling, reusing, or donating them. Such companies are leading examples of California commerce at its recycling best.

"Imation Corporation's commitment to throw less away represents the kind of environmentally friendly entrepreneurial spirit needed to help California cut its trash in half by 2000," said Waste Board Chairman Daniel G. Pennington. "Recycling waste materials has proven to be both good for the environment and corporate bottom line, as more and more companies like Imation are learning."

From 1991 through 1996, Imation saved $484,377 in disposal costs just by diverting waste from area landfills.

Since embarking on its low-waste campaign, Imation has cut the amount of trash it once landfilled by an amazing 76 percent. In 1990, the company threw away 4,050 tons of materials in landfills. But by 1996, Imation's discards were down nearly 3,000 tons to just 1,120 tons. Given the company's growth during that period, its current disposal numbers are even more impressive. The 650-employee company now recycles approximately 59 percent more trash than before and consumes 66 percent less natural gas and 47 percent less water than it did a short eight years ago.

Imation employees recycle aluminum cans, plastics, paper, corrugated cardboard, metals, carbon pellets, ash, and solvents. Most of the company's products are packaged in cartons made from recycled materials and teams of engineers, production, and maintenance staff have targeted its major waste types for downsizing: coated plastic film, computer cartridges, and miscellaneous manufacturing scrap.

Area schools have benefited from the company's donations of surplus computers and accessories, science class instruments and microscopes, diskettes, adhesive notes, and other office supplies. Over the past 12 months, Imation donated more than three tons of materials to schools.

Imation is the largest national manufacturer of the TRAVANä cartridge, a computer data backup tape able to store up to 20-billion bytes of information. In manufacturing the product and computer tapes, the company reuses solvents and employs recycled plastic parts, packaging materials, and foam pads.

Since 1993, the Waste Board has awarded more than 1,300 WRAP certificates to 825 businesses for efforts that have reduced waste throughout the state. The WRAP certificates are prominently displayed and used by businesses to publicly advertise companies' conservation ethics, something more and more conscientious shoppers appreciate. California's business sector is estimated to generate approximately half of the state's 46-million ton annual waste stream.

The application period for the 1988 cycle of WRAP runs from May 1 through June 30. The Board strongly encourages any and all businesses that have adopted resource efficient practices to reduce their waste to apply. Applications can be obtained from the Waste Board's WRAP Web site.

The six-member Integrated Waste Management Board is responsible for protecting the public's health and safety and the environment through management of the 46 million tons of solid waste generated in California each year. The Board's mandate is to work in partnership with local government, industry, and the public to achieve a 50 percent reduction in waste disposed by the year 2000, while ensuring environmentally safe landfill disposal capacity.

The Waste Board is one of six boards and departments within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).

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