BPA,
Kertzman named AOR’s Recycler of the Year for repurposing 30-year-old cubicles
(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Bonneville Power Administration continues
to be recognized for its sustainability efforts. The Environmental
Protection Agency awarded BPA a 2016 Federal Green
Challenge Award for recycling and reducing its paper use. And the Association of
Oregon Recyclers recently named BPA and property disposal officer Kevin
Kertzman its Recycler of the Year for finding a
home for hundreds of 30-year-old office cubicles.
“Finding more sustainable and cost-effective ways to operate is just another way we’re being a responsible agency and a good neighbor in the Northwest communities we serve,” said John Hairston, BPA’s chief administrative officer.
EPA’s Federal Green Challenge is a national effort that encourages federal agencies to lead by example in reducing their environmental impact in the areas of waste, energy, water, electronics, transportation and purchasing. In fiscal year 2015, BPA increased its recycling efforts by 71 percent through the recycling of 2,397 tons of metal, 312 tons of glass and ceramics, 167 tons of wood and 97 tons of e-waste. BPA also cut its paper purchases by 61 percent through a reduction of the number networked printers and the continued adoption of electronic documents and presentations. And it reduced the need for new purchases by returning $4.3 million worth of usable materials back into its inventory.
Notably, BPA diverted 80 tons of obsolete ceramic and glass insulators from the landfill to certified recycling centers in Portland, Oregon. Through its supply chain, it shipped the insulators from areas that didn’t offer glass and ceramic recycling to its Investment Recovery Center facility in Vancouver, Washington, which oversees the auction, transfer or recycling of surplus or obsolete equipment. BPA was also able to recycle copper wire from the insulators, which more than covered the glass and ceramic recycling fees.
“It was a win-win,” said Kevin Kertzman, property disposal officer. “Not only did we reduce our waste, but we were also able to reimburse BPA’s general fund, in turn crediting our electric ratepayers.”
In June, the Association of Oregon Recyclers named BPA and Kertzman its Recycler of the Year for finding a home for hundreds of 30-year-old office cubicles. After a remodel of BPA’s headquarters in Portland, Kertzman faced the task of disposing of the surplus workstations. Early on, due to the age and condition of the furniture there weren’t any takers. But after about a year of looking, and with storage costs piling up at about a thousand dollars a month, Kertzman learned that Providence Health & Services, a not-for-profit health and medical care organization, had offices throughout Washington and Oregon that needed that exact type of desks, panels and filing cabinets.
“It was a great outcome,” Kertzman said. “We were able to support an important local not-for-profit agency, while eliminating waste and protecting the environment.”
BPA has also partnered with the Oregon Department of Corrections to refurbish old, unwanted office furniture on more of a long-term basis. To date, BPA’s partnership with ODOC’s Reuse Center has saved thousands of pounds of materials from the landfill and scraps yards, and provided inmates meaningful work.
“This collaboration is a win all around,” said Chad Naugle, ODOC’s sustainability program manager. “It benefits the environment, uses intergovernmental resources, and provides vocational skills for adults in custody in recycling, repurposing and upcycling.”
Through its regional partnerships for placing and refurbishing outdated office furniture, BPA estimates it has diverted 40 to 50 tons of material from the landfill and scrap yard, and saved an estimated $35,000 in storage fees.
In the past five years, BPA has reduced its total energy use by 6.6 percent; saved nearly 30 million gallons of water; cut its fossil fuel use by 285,127 gallons; and diverted 12,498 tons of waste from landfills.
Last year, BPA received a Federal Green Challenge Regional Award for waste reduction. In 2014, BPA was recognized by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency for outstanding efforts to improve air quality. In 2013, BPA was the first federal agency to be certified by the City of Portland’s Sustainability at Work program. And in 2012, BPA received the top award in the EPA’s Federal Electronics Challenge. For more about BPA’s accomplishments in protecting the environment, read its fifth annual sustainability report.
“Finding more sustainable and cost-effective ways to operate is just another way we’re being a responsible agency and a good neighbor in the Northwest communities we serve,” said John Hairston, BPA’s chief administrative officer.
EPA’s Federal Green Challenge is a national effort that encourages federal agencies to lead by example in reducing their environmental impact in the areas of waste, energy, water, electronics, transportation and purchasing. In fiscal year 2015, BPA increased its recycling efforts by 71 percent through the recycling of 2,397 tons of metal, 312 tons of glass and ceramics, 167 tons of wood and 97 tons of e-waste. BPA also cut its paper purchases by 61 percent through a reduction of the number networked printers and the continued adoption of electronic documents and presentations. And it reduced the need for new purchases by returning $4.3 million worth of usable materials back into its inventory.
Notably, BPA diverted 80 tons of obsolete ceramic and glass insulators from the landfill to certified recycling centers in Portland, Oregon. Through its supply chain, it shipped the insulators from areas that didn’t offer glass and ceramic recycling to its Investment Recovery Center facility in Vancouver, Washington, which oversees the auction, transfer or recycling of surplus or obsolete equipment. BPA was also able to recycle copper wire from the insulators, which more than covered the glass and ceramic recycling fees.
“It was a win-win,” said Kevin Kertzman, property disposal officer. “Not only did we reduce our waste, but we were also able to reimburse BPA’s general fund, in turn crediting our electric ratepayers.”
In June, the Association of Oregon Recyclers named BPA and Kertzman its Recycler of the Year for finding a home for hundreds of 30-year-old office cubicles. After a remodel of BPA’s headquarters in Portland, Kertzman faced the task of disposing of the surplus workstations. Early on, due to the age and condition of the furniture there weren’t any takers. But after about a year of looking, and with storage costs piling up at about a thousand dollars a month, Kertzman learned that Providence Health & Services, a not-for-profit health and medical care organization, had offices throughout Washington and Oregon that needed that exact type of desks, panels and filing cabinets.
“It was a great outcome,” Kertzman said. “We were able to support an important local not-for-profit agency, while eliminating waste and protecting the environment.”
BPA has also partnered with the Oregon Department of Corrections to refurbish old, unwanted office furniture on more of a long-term basis. To date, BPA’s partnership with ODOC’s Reuse Center has saved thousands of pounds of materials from the landfill and scraps yards, and provided inmates meaningful work.
“This collaboration is a win all around,” said Chad Naugle, ODOC’s sustainability program manager. “It benefits the environment, uses intergovernmental resources, and provides vocational skills for adults in custody in recycling, repurposing and upcycling.”
Through its regional partnerships for placing and refurbishing outdated office furniture, BPA estimates it has diverted 40 to 50 tons of material from the landfill and scrap yard, and saved an estimated $35,000 in storage fees.
In the past five years, BPA has reduced its total energy use by 6.6 percent; saved nearly 30 million gallons of water; cut its fossil fuel use by 285,127 gallons; and diverted 12,498 tons of waste from landfills.
Last year, BPA received a Federal Green Challenge Regional Award for waste reduction. In 2014, BPA was recognized by the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency for outstanding efforts to improve air quality. In 2013, BPA was the first federal agency to be certified by the City of Portland’s Sustainability at Work program. And in 2012, BPA received the top award in the EPA’s Federal Electronics Challenge. For more about BPA’s accomplishments in protecting the environment, read its fifth annual sustainability report.
