Since May of 2004, SIA has not sent any waste to a landfill. In addition, 99.9% of all waste that leaves SIA is recycled. The other 0.1% of our waste is sent for incineration in accordance with EPA guidelines. In April of 2009, SIA began composting organic cafeteria waste. Associates using the SIA Cafeteria separate their waste using recycling and organic waste barrels. The organic waste is then composted on-site through a multi-week process. Composted material is used for landscaping at SIA and available for SIA Associates to use at home. Zero landfill has become a way of life at SIA, but that is just the beginning as we continue to explore other avenues to reduce, reuse and recycle.
As SIA continues its efforts to reduce its overall impact on the environment, we share our creative environmental ideas and programs with others. Through our STARS (Students and Teachers Achieving Recycling Success) program, we help local high schools implement and improve recycling programs.
SIA Associates have found ways to reduce, reuse and recycle waste through the kaizen process of continuous improvement. SIA Associates implemented innovative and efficient programs to reduce consumption, eliminate unnecessary packaging, utilize reusable containers and develop new markets for recycling of by-products.
Reduce
Recycling is not the initial goal. Recycling requires energy, fuel, and manpower. By first reducing, SIA not only saves time and money, but we also decrease the dependence on fuel to transport our recyclables to companies that can use our waste products. Less transportation of waste means fewer greenhouse gases emitted by vehicles. Since 2000, SIA has reduced the amount of waste per vehicle produced by 46%.
Reuse
If we can reuse something that would normally be recycled, we'll reuse it. As an example, Styrofoam and
plastic carriers that suspend and protect camshafts during shipment are reused. Our goal is to reuse our
camshaft carriers a minimum of five times before recycling them. After the camshaft is fitted on to one of our horizontally opposed 4-cylinder engines, we place the camshaft carrier, along with other forms of packaging on trailers that are returned to suppliers. Metal crates, plastic tubs, Styrofoam and plastics from throughout our manufacturing facility are all returned to various suppliers. In 2008, SIA's Engine Shop alone returned 2,122 tons of reusable packaging to vendors and suppliers.
Recycle
In 2010, SIA recycled 25,164 tons of scrap metal, 1,378 tons of cardboard and paper and 75 tons of wood.
This equals...
- 23,700 Mature Trees saved
- 95,986,000 Kilowatt Hours of Electricity conserved
- 55,400 Cubic Yards of Landfill Airspace not used
- 637,000 Gallons of Oil saved
- 33,000 Gallons of Gasoline not consumed
- 9,642,000 Gallons of Water conserved
Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Inside our 2 1/8-mile test track there is a Blue Heron sanctuary that is also host to Canada Geese, Red Tail Hawks, and a visiting family of American Bald Eagles.SIA's entire property is spotted with ponds, walking trails, natural plantings and wooded areas. Populating the property are deer, beaver, pheasant, owls, herons, hawks, eagles, rabbits, coyotes and other animals indigenous to Indiana. At SIA, we believe it is important to be good environmental stewards, and to consider ourselves only temporary residents trying not to disrupt what nature has already provided.
Other Notable Environmental Achievements
- 1994 - 1st Auto Assembly Plant in the U.S. to become Smoke Free
- 1998 - 1st Auto Assembly Plant in the U.S. to be ISO 14001 Certified
- 2002 - 1st Auto Assembly Plant in the U.S. with an on-site solvent recovery and reuse system
- 2003 - 1st Auto Assembly Plant in the U.S. to be designated a Backyard Wildlife Habitat by the National Wildlife Federation
- 2004 - 1st Auto Assembly Plant in the U.S. to achieve ZERO LANDFILL
- 2006 -1st Among all overseas facilities of Japan-based auto makers in Nikkei environmental management survey
- 2003 - Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for Recycling and Reuse
- 2006 - EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for New Partner
- 2006 - Governor's Award for Environmental Excellence for 5 Years Continuous Improvement
- 2007 - EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for Industrial Recycling
- 2008 - EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for Climate Change
- 2009 - EPA WasteWise Gold Achievement Award for Community Involvement