May 2010
Chamber members receive Johnson County's Green Business Emerald, Gold Award
To recognize new, as well as ongoing, efforts by Johnson County businesses to “go green,” the Johnson County
Solid Waste Management Committee has selected 14 businesses as recipients of its inaugural Green Business
Awards. Awardees, winners at either an emerald or gold level, were formally recognized May 6 during the Johnson County Board of County Commissioners meeting. The 14 companies diverted a combined total of 1,227 tons of landfill waste. Award recipients range from elementary schools, manufacturers and government agencies to a church with 16,000 members.
Congratulations to Chamber members Shawnee Mission Medical Center and WaterOne on their emerald-level award! Shawnee Mission Medical Center's cooling tower uses electronic pulses to treat bacteria. SMMC has also been donating surplus product inventory to Harvesters, and a local farmer receives vegetable scrap/trimmings for composting. WaterOne reduced paper usage 38 percent by encouraging two-sided printing and recycled 36,000 pounds of paper and cardboard over the past year.
Congratulations to Chamber member Perceptive Software Inc. for its gold-level award! Perceptive Software Inc. has accomplished reducing and nearly eliminating the use of paper collateral at more than 200 annual trade shows and events.
All applicants were asked to complete a survey, ranking their achievements in categories of waste reduction; reuse and recycling; outreach and education; and policies. Points were assigned for the achievements, and applicants had to meet a minimum of 10 mandatory actions. Three levels were available for awards; Green, Gold and Emerald. Each applicant also submitted a one-page summary of their efforts and a metrics report showing how they tracked waste-reduction efforts.
This annual award is self-nominating and non competitive. Applications are due January 31 of each year. Inquiries about the Green Business Awards should be directed to Craig Wood, 913.715.6917, of Johnson County.
For more information on composting and other ways to recycle, click here to visit the county’s Website dedicated to recycling, where residents can find information on composting; residential and commercial recycling; yard-waste disposal; and ways to reduce trash and reuse resources.
April 2010
First National Bank of Olathe's Ripple Glass bin saves 9.72 tons of glass from the landfill in March
First National Bank of Olathe, 15100 W. 67th St., has been host to a Ripple Glass bin since December 2009, having collected and saved more than 24 tons of glass from the community's landfill. This location has been more than beneficial to the community, and the public has been consistent with recycling its glass. In March, 9.72 tons of glass were collected at the FNBO host site alone! Thank you to FNBO and the community for taking the time to keep Shawnee clean. Please click here to discover local, Ripple Glass bin locations.
First National Bank of Olathe to celebrate Earth Day
Stop by the First National Bank of Olathe, 15100 W. 67th St., parking lot Thursday, April 22, from 2 to 5 p.m. to celebrate Earth Day to learn about green efforts of the community as well as how to minimize your carbon footprint.
This celebration is free to the community! Green leaders of the community - Deffenbaugh Industries, KCP&L, Owens Coming, Ripple Glass, Shawnee Mission Ford - will be present to educate guests and to answer questions in regards to going green. Stop by to talk green, to enjoy refreshments and to win prizes!
Guests are encouraged to bring their glass recyclables, as FNBO is host to a Ripple Glass bin. In addition, guests are also encouraged to bring their paper and plastic recyclables to dump in the Shawnee Chamber of Commerce's recycle bin provided through its Sustain Shawnee program. In the event of rain, this celebration will be canceled. Contact Robin Frazee, FNBO, for more details and information, 913.791.9185.
March 2010
Learn about the Johnson County Sustainability Program
Learn why Johnson County, Kan. is committed to sustainability and keeping the county clean.
December 2009
Sustainability, recycling efforts increase in Shawnee
Shawnee Chamber of Commerce member, First National Bank of Olathe, is host to a Ripple Glass, LLC, recycling bin in addition to being an active participant in Sustain Shawnee, the Chamber's member-value, environmental program.
