Honda Presses Suppliers to Join Zero-Landfill Program

Honda of America Manufacturing Inc. has almost abandoned sending factory waste to landfills, and the manufacturer is inviting its fellow suppliers to join the cause. The Japanese manufacturer is launching the program this year to help North American Suppliers quit the dump habit.

"Landfilling is almost always the cheaper alternative.We could save money if we just sent everything to a landfill. But we don't want to be that kind of company. Landfills are not the solution for waste management." Karen Heyob,associate chief engineer and manager of Honda zero-landfill program was quoted as saying by autonews.com

“When we say zero landfill, we mean absolute zero.Not 2 percent or 1 percent, but zero waste is going to landfills now."said the aforementioned source.

The manufacturer spent approximately 10 years looking for ways to use the waste materials, ranging from oily rags and packaging materials to cafeteria garbage and paint sludge, as a result, the Japanese manufacturer will generate this year about 2 pounds of landfill waste per vehicle manufactured in North America compared to 63 pounds in 2001.

Furthermore the Super Sustainability program will also help the suppliers in managing the costs much better also the program will determine parts and material companies to switch to similar zero-land fill policy goals.

Honda which launched the Zero-Landfill program in 2001 at its newest auto facility in Lincoln, Alaska , achieved zero-landfill status at Canadian and Mexican facilities. For example employees at Honda’s facility in Marysville, Ohio found a way to extract more sealer out of its storage barrels. Previously the facility was disposing 7 to 8 percent of every barred because they couldn’t pump it out.