The Environmental Management Association (EMA) (http://www.emaweb.info) awarded its annual Environmental Achievement Award to Hydrodec North America LLC. The announcement was made by EMA president Larry Russette at the annual awards ceremony at the Detroit Athletic Club.
“One of the most rewarding and exciting parts of my association with the EMA is the passion for the environment that many students exhibit at the Science Fair and to see private company innovations that are displayed by our corporate winner. I am annually impressed by all our award nominees and these winners may have been the best yet,” said Larry Russette.
Located in Canton, Ohio, Hydrodec is the only company in the world that, through its patented process, can transform used napthenic mineral oil into high quality oil that is used by transformer manufacturers to fill new equipment.
Historically, this waste mineral oil was disposed of by being sold off to be burned as fuel. That process can possibly result in the release of toxic PCB dioxins into the Great Lakes sensitive ecosystem. Hydrodec’s cost-effective, closed-loop process completely eliminates harmful PCB’s from the oil and, therefore, the environment.
The other finalists under consideration for the 2012 Environmental Achievement Award, in no particular order were:
- Chrysler Auburn Hills facility – The Chrysler Technology Center (CTC) achieved “Zero Waste to Landfill” status in 2011 and has sustained the program for both non-regulated and regulated waste streams.
- ISR – minority owned and Dearborn-based, ISR has developed an exclusive Demanufacturing process that disassembles E-Scrap and then processes the E-Scrap as a commodity at their facility. This process Guarantees that the downstream E-Waste does not end up in the hands of unscrupulous recyclers or in a landfill. ISR also has the capability to resale or rebuild units if necessary.
Additionally, during the evening, three Detroit area students who participated in the 55th annual Detroit Science and Engineering Fair received Environmental Science Awards in the form of cash scholarships.
The winner of a $1,000 scholarship from the EMA was Cody Liu, a sophomore at Detroit Country Day High School. His science project focused on how copper can impact changes in locomotive behavior and cell regeneration in living organisms. His project demonstrated that copper toxicity has an adverse effect on cellular functions in the California Black Worm. His instructor at Country is Mr. Gene Menton.
About the Environmental Management Association (EMA): The EMA is a nonprofit association that was established to maintain an active and open information exchange between government and industry professionals involved with the environment. The EMA supports that application of integrity, common sense, sound science and fiscal responsibility in all matters affecting the environment. You can learn more at www.emaweb.org.
Source: The Environmental Management Association