BFS Retail & Commercial Operations Receives U.S. Environmental Protection Agency RecognitionAutomotive retailer honored for lead recycling initiative
BLOOMINGDALE, Ill. (Nov. 6, 2008) — As a member of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Partnership for Environmental Priorities (NPEP) program, BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) was honored recently at the WasteWise & NPEP Conference for recycling more than 319,000 pounds of lead from lead wheel weights in 2007.
In addition to its ongoing efforts to further reduce the impact of lead on the environment, BFRC launched a nationwide environmental initiative in January 2008 to install non-toxic steel wheel weights instead of lead weights in its customers’ vehicles. BFRC, a member of the Bridgestone Americas (BSA) family, was the first of the major chains in the automotive repair industry to make the switch to steel wheel weights. All of BFRC’s approximately 2,000 automotive service store locations are switching to more ecologically sensitive, non-toxic steel weights, replacing millions of lead wheel weights each year.
“BFRC is honored to receive this recognition and will continue to strengthen its commitment to protecting the environment,” said Michael Welly, Environmental Compliance Specialist for BFRC, which operates Firestone Complete Auto Care™, Tires Plus™, ExpertTire™ and Wheel Works™. “Lead reduction is just one of many efforts to protect and conserve the environment under our global ‘One Team, One Planet’ program with Bridgestone Corporation, BSA’s parent company.”
In August, Firestone Complete Auto Care and Firestone Racing reiterated their commitment to improving the environment by eliminating the use of lead wheel weights. These two members of the BSA family joined the EPA to launch the agency’s new National Lead-Free Wheel Weight Initiative.
“By bringing together the country’s environmental leaders, the WasteWise & NPEP Conference serves as a platform for organizations to share best practices, strengthen our commitment to the environment and set goals for a greener future,” said Welly.
BFRC has a long tradition of working to enhance the environment and supporting conservation efforts. In addition to launching the non-toxic steel wheel weights program, BFRC announced several new environmental initiatives over the past year. Firestone Complete Auto Care now offers a “green” oil change service utilizing a recycled oil product in Portland, Ore., and Boston, Mass., store locations. Also, the Automotive Service Association of Arizona just named five Firestone Complete Auto Care store locations in that state as “green shops” through its Green Business Automotive Program.
About BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC:
BFS Retail & Commercial Operations, LLC (BFRC) is headquartered in Bloomingdale, Ill., and operates the largest network of company-owned automotive service providers in the world — more than 2,000 tire and vehicle service centers across the United States — including Firestone Complete Auto Care™, Tires Plus™, ExpertTire™ and Wheel Works™ store locations. Credit First National Association and Firestone Complete Fleet Care™ operations are also part of BFRC. BFRC is a member of the Bridgestone Americas family of companies.
About Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas Holding, Inc. (BSAH) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAH and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAH family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.