GM’s Toledo Plant Recognized for Pollution Prevention

TOLEDO, Ohio, September 17, 2014 /3BL Media/ – General Motors’ Toledo Transmission plant today received a national pollution prevention award for successful efforts to reduce its impact on the environment.

The award from the National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, received during an event marking Pollution Prevention Week, recognizes GM Toledo’s accomplishments in pollution prevention and sustainability. 

The facility manufactures six-speed and eight-speed automatic transmissions for light-duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, crossover vehicles and cars.

“This award is a celebration of various plant sustainability initiatives, from landfill-free to our ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry distinction,” said Joyce Arakelian, a senior environmental engineer at the facility. “Our Drive-to-Zero program helps conserve our resources and enables employees to see the simple and real benefits of energy reduction.”

In one year, GM Toledo reduced energy intensity by 30 percent, avoiding 38,425 metric tons of carbon from entering the atmosphere. The plant also reduced wastewater pretreatment discharges by 60 percent since 2009.

Additionally, GM Toledo last year installed a 1.8-megawatt rooftop solar array, the largest in Ohio, and uses landfill gas. Combined, these renewable energy sources provide 19 percent of the facility’s energy.

GM Toledo is one of GM’s 111 landfill-free facilities. All byproducts from daily manufacturing operations are either recycled, reused or converted to energy. No waste is sent to a landfill.

The National Pollution Prevention Roundtable, the largest membership organization in the United States devoted to pollution prevention,   recognizes pollution reduction efforts among industry, academia, nonprofits and individuals. Awards are based on criteria including innovation, results, transferability, commitment and making the most of available resources.

General Motors Co. (NYSE:GM, TSX: GMM) and its partners produce vehicles in 30 countries, and the company has leadership positions in the world's largest and fastest-growing automotive markets.  GM’s brands include Chevrolet and Cadillac, as well as Baojun, Buick, GMC, Holden, Jiefang, Opel, Vauxhall and Wuling. More information on the company and its subsidiaries, including OnStar, a global leader in vehicle safety, security and information services, can be found at http://www.gm.com.