North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative Recognizes Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations PlantWilson, N.C., facility celebrates environmental honor

WILSON, N.C. (April 14, 2010) - The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) has recognized the Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations (BATO) plant in Wilson, N.C., as an Environmental Steward, the highest level of achievement in the state’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative.

“We work every day to ensure we are operating in an efficient, environmentally friendly way,” said Jim Pridgen, Wilson Plant Manager, BATO. “It is an honor to be recognized as an environmental leader in the state. Our Wilson co-workers should certainly be proud of this recognition.”

With the honor, the Wilson plant becomes one of just 14 organizations in North Carolina to be named an Environmental Steward.

“This is a major honor that illustrates how seriously our co-workers are committed to environmental stewardship,” said Tim Bent, Director of Environmental Affairs for Bridgestone Americas, Inc., BATO’s parent company. “Congratulations to all the members of the Wilson plant team for this recognition. The facility is truly model when it comes to environmentally sound operations.”

In order to be selected as a Steward in the program, an organization must undergo a rigorous review by DENR staff and an Environmental Stewardship Initiative Advisory Board composed of representatives from large and small businesses, nongovernmental organizations, public agencies, military organizations and academia. The Advisory Board was particularly impressed by the Wilson facility’s solid waste reduction efforts and outreach to the local community through the 300-acre Freedom Wildlife Habitat and Refuge.

More than 1,000 students and guests have visited the Freedom site to learn about and participate in activities that support and improve pollinator gardens, quail and wild turkey habitats; bluebird, wood duck and bat nesting; and natural grasslands, woodlands and wetlands. The Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Wilson County Soil and Water Conservation District are active in habitat enhancement projects and community amenities such as the habitat’s educational nature trail. The habitat also hosts a Merit Badge University, which allows scouts work to achieve specific merit badges, as well as the Area IV Regional Envirothon, an environmentally-themed academic competition for students in grades six to 12.

“The Wilson facility’s environmental programs truly exemplify the goals of DENR’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative,” said Gary Hunt, Director, North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. “The facility has achieved high sustainability goals, integrated its environmental management system into its core business functions and established an impressive platform for environmental communication with its local community through the Freedom Wildlife Habitat and Refuge. We look forward to more accomplishments by this facility in the years ahead.”

DENR’s Environmental Stewardship Initiative is a voluntary program designed to promote and encourage superior environmental performance by North Carolina’s regulated community. The Initiative has three levels of membership: Environmental Partner, Rising Environmental Steward and Environmental Steward.

Wilson co-workers will hold a luncheon at the plant’s habitat on April 14 to celebrate the achievement. The Wilson facility employs more than 1,800 co-workers and produces passenger and light truck tires.