Events Calendar |
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Green Council Meeting
Date: December 6, 2011
Time: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Event Description
This month the Green Council will tour Wis-Pak.
Who is Wis-Pak? We’ve all seen the name on pop bottles found in gas stations, grocery stores and vending machines but here in Norfolk, NE, they fly under the radar drawing little attention to themselves and the “green stewardship” they demonstrate through their every day operations. Wis-Pak is an independent bottler that was established in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1969. Today they consist of nine filling plants, a transportation company, a bottled water company and through its wholly owned subsidiary, WP Beverages, LLC, several Pepsi-Cola franchises. Collectively, they represent over 50 Pepsi-Cola franchises spanning 16 states.
Since inception, Wis-Pak has created a culture of conservation with an emphasis on recycling. The Norfolk operation alone produces ½ million bottles and 1 million cans per day while in production. It’s easy to see why finding ways to recycle would be imperative for this scale of operation.
The Norfolk location has continually worked to become leaner and greener. Currently they recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, shrink and stretch film, labels, bottle caps, aluminum, and all plastic chemical containers. At this time the amount of waste going to the landfill fills a 30 yard receiver box every other month however their goal is to reduce that to a mere 3 times per year. It is safe to say that this facility is diverting over 90% of potential waste from the landfill and into reusable applications.
In addition to this, in 2010, the Norfolk plant underwent an energy audit. This was performed by NPPD and focused primarily on the lighting system. Upon the findings and their recommendations, Wis-Pak replaced all of their lighting with energy efficient fluorescent fixtures and motion detectors. Water usage and waste water have been reduced by reviewing all daily operating procedures and upgrading blending equipment. All of these initiatives in conjunction with their tremendous recycling efforts make them one of Norfolk’s Greenest Businesses and whole-heartedly deserving of recognition for their stewardship towards the environment.
Wis-Pak, please continue to lead the way in showing the Norfolk community what can be accomplished when leadership, culture, and employee support are all aligned to “go green.”
Who is Wis-Pak? We’ve all seen the name on pop bottles found in gas stations, grocery stores and vending machines but here in Norfolk, NE, they fly under the radar drawing little attention to themselves and the “green stewardship” they demonstrate through their every day operations. Wis-Pak is an independent bottler that was established in Watertown, Wisconsin in 1969. Today they consist of nine filling plants, a transportation company, a bottled water company and through its wholly owned subsidiary, WP Beverages, LLC, several Pepsi-Cola franchises. Collectively, they represent over 50 Pepsi-Cola franchises spanning 16 states.
Since inception, Wis-Pak has created a culture of conservation with an emphasis on recycling. The Norfolk operation alone produces ½ million bottles and 1 million cans per day while in production. It’s easy to see why finding ways to recycle would be imperative for this scale of operation.
The Norfolk location has continually worked to become leaner and greener. Currently they recycle cardboard, paper, plastic, shrink and stretch film, labels, bottle caps, aluminum, and all plastic chemical containers. At this time the amount of waste going to the landfill fills a 30 yard receiver box every other month however their goal is to reduce that to a mere 3 times per year. It is safe to say that this facility is diverting over 90% of potential waste from the landfill and into reusable applications.
In addition to this, in 2010, the Norfolk plant underwent an energy audit. This was performed by NPPD and focused primarily on the lighting system. Upon the findings and their recommendations, Wis-Pak replaced all of their lighting with energy efficient fluorescent fixtures and motion detectors. Water usage and waste water have been reduced by reviewing all daily operating procedures and upgrading blending equipment. All of these initiatives in conjunction with their tremendous recycling efforts make them one of Norfolk’s Greenest Businesses and whole-heartedly deserving of recognition for their stewardship towards the environment.
Wis-Pak, please continue to lead the way in showing the Norfolk community what can be accomplished when leadership, culture, and employee support are all aligned to “go green.”
