Green Initiatives

Team Elmer's is committed to implementing "green" initiatives throughout all aspects of our company: People, Policy and Procedures, Products, Actions and Certifications.

People

• NPDES Storm Water Certification
• Seven certified storm water operators ensure facility is meeting state requirements, minimizing the risks and impact of storm water pollution at plant locations and on jobsites.
• Paperless accounting section implemented. To be expanded to other divisions.
   

Policies & Procedures

• MDEQ Air Quality Permit – Asphalt Operations
  • Longer stacks than required to reduce emissions and odor to community.
• MDEQ Air Permit for Crushing Operations
  • Fugitive Dust Plan to reduce dust during operations, water spray bar on crusher to control dust.
• EPA required Pollution Prevention Plan (PPP)
  • Prevention and containment of spill hazards.
• Enclosed Asphalt Load Out area to reduce air emissions from load out procedure.
• Reduce Fuel consumption through 6 point check system on fleet of vehicles.
  • Engine Tuning I : Reduce engines' top speed.
  • Engine Tuning II : Program engines to shut off after 10 minutes idle time.
  • Change Tire Type : Install super single tires with reduced rolling friction versus standard dual tire system.
  • Properly Inflate Tire : Maximum pressure on tire side may not be best for vehicle. Check manual
  • Equipment Changes : Purchase smooth sided trailers when updating fleet to reduce wind resistance and raise fuel efficiency.
  • Scheduling Efficiencies : Move equipment to job site rather than back to yard during interim.
     

Products, Actions, and Certifications

• Recycle used oil from our equipment for heating.
• Testing to ensure no heavy metals, reducing emissions into air.
• Our strict standards use ¼ of the heavy metal limits allowed by the state.
• 2008 Michigan Recycling Coalition Recycler of the Year
• Warm Mix Asphalt -- Reduces fuel consumption and decreases the production of greenhouse gases
• Recrushed Asphalt Pavement (RAP)
  • Asphalt road surfaces hauled from existing jobsites, recrushed and used in new asphalt mix designs.
• Recrushed Concrete Gravel
  • Concrete sidewalks, brick, block, and porcelain (sinks, toilets, plates) crusehd into a reusable gravel product for parking lot or driveway subgrade foundations.
• Slag and Fly Ash in Concrete
  • LEED Certification credits using recycled manufacturing cast off materials in concrete mix designs.
• Concrete Washout Containment Areas
  • Lined concrete washout area to contain sediment settling.
• Switched crushing operation at pit location from diesel to electric, reducing overall air quality emissions.
• Switched Café to eco friendly serving products. Compostable togo cups and containers with reduced energy production used in manufacturing process.
• Reuse paper as scratch pads prior to recycling.
• Implemented plastic, glass, metal, paper, and cardboard company recycling program.
• Replaced cleaning products with more environmentally friendly products.
• Use environmentally-friendly and biodegradable citrus soap in all asphalt trucks as release agent.
• Fall 2011: Warm mix asphalt to be introduced. This lower temperature asphalt reduces air emissions during plant operation.