LaGrange, GA, November 29--Milliken Carpet met a goal in 1999 when it achieved zero waste diversion to landfill. That zero winning streak now spans five years with repeats in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
"We are the first manufacturer in the textile and carpet industry to reach this goal and one of a very few major manufacturing companies to achieve this level of success in landfill diversion," said Bill Gregory, director of sustainable initiatives for Milliken Carpet.
With more than a century of environmental stewardship Milliken & Company launched an expansive environmental program in 1960 and adopted a goal of zero waste generation in 1990 for all business divisions to support ongoing policies.
Milliken eliminated chemical materials from landfill 16 years ago. Steel containers, white and colored office paper, glass, metals, yard waste and tires have been absent for 13 years. Other materials that have been removed from the landfill path include plastic containers, tubes and cones; cardboard containers, fiber, yarn and fabric materials, coal ash and wood pallets.
"Milliken is to be congratulated on being a leading adopter of the Zero Waste philosophy, a fundamental requirement for a sustainable society. There is no doubt that it will lead to additional cost savings and reduced environmental impacts. All companies should follow their lead," said Zero Waste Alliance (ZWA) Executive Director Larry Chalfan. ZWA is based in Portland, Oregon.
Milliken Carpet eliminated PVC in 1986. Today the Toxic Release Inventory for the carpet manufacturer shows emissions are de minimus. Energy cogeneration or waste to energy is the lowest level of recycling that Milliken supports.
Materials for which there are no other current options are sent to units that produce energy in the form of steam or electricity. Incineration is not considered an option. With the proprietary Millitron carpet dyeing technology the company uses environmentally friendly dyes while minimizing materials and water use.
"As a green pioneer, Milliken knows we have reached a significant benchmark worth celebrating. At the same time, we recognize that it is a destination on a continuing journey toward regeneration," said Gregory.
