LAI receives conservation award

LAI Midwest, Minneapolis, a contract manufacturer specializing in waterjet machining services, received the Waste Buster Recognition Award from the Anoka County Solid Waste Advisory Task Force in Blaine, Minn.

The award is in recognition of the company's environmental conservation program that recycles solid waste and cuts water usage. The company installed a water-recycling filter press that cut daily water consumption of 8,000 gal. in half. Last year the company recycled 57 tons of scrap metal, 2,160 lbs. of cardboard, 1,000 lbs. of newsprint, 100 lbs. of aluminum cans, 80 lbs. of glass and plastic bottles, and 180 fluorescent bulbs.

Company employees collect and deliver recyclable items to a drop-off recycling center. They have reduced incoming mail, used scrap paper, printed double-sided documents, purchased recycled paper, and donated 200 lbs. of shredded paper to the Anoka County Humane Society.

In June 2006 LAI Midwest began promoting its recycling efforts with posters, flyers, e-mails, meetings, and bulletin board postings. The company's facility in Westminster, Md., has started a similar recycling program.