Jun 2 2009
Kyocera Wireless Corp., (KWC), a leading global manufacturer of wireless handsets and devices, announced today it has earned its ninth consecutive recycling award from the City of San Diego's Environmental Services Department (ESD). The Director’s Recycling Award is one of the city's highest environmental honors and marks Kyocera’s sixteenth environmental award from the City to date – the most of any business in San Diego, according to the ESD.
“We commend companies such as Kyocera who take the initiative in waste reduction and recycling. These actions help the City of San Diego to keep the Miramar Landfill open longer, reduce greenhouse gases, and help improve our environmental quality,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders.
In 2008, KWC recycled more than 195,531 pounds of paper, plastic, electronic and other waste otherwise destined for landfills. The company reduced the amount of waste sent to the landfill by 24 percent compared to 2007, when it also earned the Director’s Recycling Award. Along with protecting the environment, Kyocera’s recycling, waste and energy-reduction programs contributed almost $70,000 in recycling revenue and approximately $311,000 in cost avoidance to the company’s 2008 bottom line.
KWC’s 2008 recycling efforts were complemented by significant savings of both water and energy. Continuing a reclaimed water program initiated in 2003, KWC averted the use of more than 4 million gallons of potable fresh water – enough to service 64 average San Diego households for one year. New software was installed that reduced electricity consumption by the company’s computer servers by about 90 percent. And, together with an efficient new VoIP-based phone system, these two energy-saving projects earned KWC rebates from SDG&E totaling $33,500. Careful energy conservation and area consolidation yielded savings of more than 2.1 million kWh – enough to power 442 average San Diego homes for one year – and approximately $256,771.
“We’re proud to continue our commitment to the environment and hope we can provide an example of how environmental stewardship also can benefit a company’s bottom line,” said Rod Lanthorne, president of KWC and its parent company, San Diego-based Kyocera International Inc. "Seeking harmonious balance between economic development and environmental preservation has been a core tenet at Kyocera since its inception 50 years ago. We are proud of our employees as they continue to work protecting the environment and conserving natural resources to benefit future generations.”
Company-wide programs are in place at Kyocera to reduce copying and faxing by increasing scanning and use of LCD projectors; recycle cardboard, paper, plastics and precious metals used in manufacturing processes; reduce waste and disposable plates and utensils in cafeterias and even to re-use landscape trimmings and damaged wooden pallets as mulch material around the grounds to preserve moisture in the soil.
Continuing the efforts beyond the local footprint, Kyocera has become a Southern California sponsor of Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet, a public art exhibit with the purpose to educate about global warming and solutions for individuals and companies to combat the global issue. Kyocera has also been a sponsor of, and participant in, the Virgin Mobile Festival, the worlds “greenest” music festival held annually in Baltimore, Maryland.