The Environmental Management Association (EMA) (http://www.emaweb.info) recently awarded its annual Environmental Achievement Award to the South Macomb Disposal Authority.
The announcement was made by EMA president Larry Russette at the annual awards ceremony held at the Detroit Athletic Club on April 18, 2013.
“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 EAA winner. I am annually impressed by all,” said Larry Russette.
The SMDA won for its rehabilitation of the former landfill sites at Freedom Hill. The project involves an innovative use of phytoremediation to help remedy leachate removal and remediate two landfills along the Red Run Drain in the Clinton River Basin resulting in a now park-like setting with advanced drainage. The former landfill site is now safe and being used by pedestrians and families.
The other finalists for the 2012 Environmental Achievement Award were:
- Algal Scientific Corp, a biotechnology company located in Plymouth, Michigan, that has developed a process to turn algae to be used as a food supplement for livestock.
- O’Brien Construction Company for its forward-thinking “green” headquarters located in Troy featuring geothermal heating and cooling, dual use hot water heater, rain and garden swale, energy recovery unit, building shell and insulation properties, site selection qualities and other advances.
Additionally, during the evening, three Detroit area students who participated in the 56thannual Detroit Science and Engineering Fair received Environmental Science Awards in the form of cash scholarships and an iPad donated by local Sam’s Warehouse Clubs.
- First place- $1,000 from EMA and an iPad from Sam’s Warehouse Club: Anuush Vejalla, a 9th grade student from Detroit Country Day Upper School in Beverly Hills, Toxin in Rice
- Second place-$500 from EMA and an iPad from Sam’s Warehouse Club: Alexander Nakhleh, a sophomore at Divine Child High School in Dearborn Increasing Efficiency of Electrolysis by Changing Solutions in an Electrolytic Cell
- Third place – $250 from EMA and an iPad from Sam’s Warehouse Club: Lamar Cherry, an 11th grade student at Martin Luther King High School in Detroit-A Comparative Study of Effects of Detergents on plants
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.
Author: David Plank, representing GreeningDetroit.com