Interstate Container
Cambridge, MD
Honored July '10

WMDT & Mountaire Farms proudly to named Interstate Container of Cambridge, MD, as the recipient of the WMDT/Mountaire Farms Environmental Star of the Month Award for July.  For over a decade the box industry has faced the challenge of finding a viable alternative to wax coated boxes.  Under mounting pressure from major metropolitan areas and retailers to develop an environmentally friendly option, Interstate Container of Cambridge, a subsidiary of Interstate Resources, did the improbable, meeting the challenge head on and developing their patent pending GREENCOAT box. This unique box maintains all the strengths of its wax coat counterpart and none of its weaknesses.

In comparison, the box size has been slightly smaller, allowing for a reduction in the amount of paper needed to produce the box, and the inner plastic bag and wax coating once used on all boxes was eliminated.  These subtle, but highly effective changes make the biggest difference possible, the new GREENCOAT box is 100% recyclable and compostable, thus reducing the millions of tons of waste destined for landfills & greenhouse gas emissions once seen with wax coated boxes.  This new packaging has passed the ISO 16929 protocol for plastic disintegration in a pilot scale composting facility, which means it meets the government’s environmental standards.  It is for this innovative excellence Interstate Container was chosen as an Environmental Star of the Month.

Mountaire Farms, a proud partner of Interstate Container, has fully integrated the GREENCOAT boxes into their production facilities for use in packing and shipping poultry product throughout the United States and abroad.  It was through a joint effort with Interstate Container that the GREENCOAT prototype, and its state-of-the-art technology, was first developed and unveiled to the world.  Mountaire Farms is the first company to utilize the 100% recyclable containers, which are inline to replace all wax boxes used in the U.S. supply chain.  This industry switch over as a whole will not only eliminate waste, but will also provide noticeable decreases in water and energy usage.  And Interstate Container can proudly say they where the driving force behind this latest technological innovation, placing them at the forefront of the industry.

According to Pete Bugas, General Manager, Interstate Container, “This a major step to permanently remove wax boxes throughout the supply chain in the United States. This box now provides the end-user with a recycling option; it also is certified compostable, which is yet another avenue to prevent boxes from being land-filled.”

Earlier this year the GREENCOAT boxes were first tested on Mountaire product destined for the New York City market, which runs through the Hunt’s Point Distribution facility in New York.  Interstate Container, in partnership with Global Green USA and Mountaire, commenced the conversion of Mountaire’s New York City business to these FBA-certified recyclable boxes.  This initial trial was implemented at Mountaire’s Lumber Bridge North Carolina facility, the largest poultry processing plant in the country. By transitioning Mountaire’s business to GREENCOAT boxes, the New York City market alone will now be able to recycle over 6,000 tons of poultry boxes per year. If all of Mountaire’s boxes servicing New York City are recycled, greenhouses gases would be reduced by 21,000 mtCO₂e per year, equivalent to removing 3,800 passenger cars off the road.

After witnessing these glowing results, it was an easy decision for Mountaire to formulate a plan to not only convert their existing modified atmosphere packaging to recyclable boxes, but also to convert their ice pack product to atmosphere packaging as well, in turn allowing for a complete transition of the entire product line to recyclable boxes. Full conversion of facilities in Lumber Bridge, NC, Selbyville, DE and Millsboro, DE has already been completed.

“Because we’re an agricultural company, we have an obligation to take care of the earth. In order to sustain our business, we need to have good soil, clean water, and clean air to grow our crops and raise our chickens. It is all part of our way of being.”- Larry Saywell, VP of Marketing, Mountaire Farms

Peninsula Regional Medical Center
Salisbury, MD
Honored April '10

WMDT & Mountaire Farms proudly presented Peninsula Regional Medical Center with the WMDT/Mountaire Environmental Star of the Month Award on Thursday, April 22^nd in honor of the 40^th Anniversary of Earth Day.  Although the distinction may have been bestowed on the historic date, the journey began months ago when the Medical Center began stepping up their effort to “go green”.  With a goal of creating an environmentally friendly work place, hospital execs formed “The Green Team”.  A group comprised of Peninsula Regional employees whose purpose is to identify and implement eco-friendly practices geared towards lessening the environmental impact of the entire facility.  Whether it’s using more efficient ways to conserve energy and natural resources, reducing waste through innovative recycling measures and using smarter, greener purchasing methods, the Medical Center has made clear its commitment to becoming a good steward for the environment and leader in the healthcare industry. 

“It’s staggering how much impact the healthcare industry is having on our environment and ultimately the health of our communities in terms of landfill usage and water and energy consumption,”said Cindy Lunsford, Executive Vice President of Peninsula Regional Medical Center. “As a health care facility we are dedicated to improving the health of the communities we serve, but we often inadvertently contribute to health and environmental problems.  The time has come for us to extend our concern for the environment and play our part in the green movement.”  

Since July of ‘09 several new programs and structural renovations have placed PRMC among the top eco-friendly organizations in the area.  One such initiative is an “e-waste” recycling program which allows virtually all electronics (computers, hard drives, electronic controls, etc.) to be completely recycled instead of heading for the landfill.  It also offers employees a battery recycling service where old dry-cell batteries, even those from home, can be dropped off into a special bin that gets collected routinely and recycled.  

“E-Waste”, is not the only landfill saver Peninsula Regional has employed.  During the renovation of the Avery W. Hall Educational Center, Value Carpet One in Salisbury, along with R.M. Brokerage in Alexandria, VA and C & A Floor Coverings in Dalton, GA, partnered with Peninsula Regional in recycling all of the old carpet being replaced throughout the 2^nd floor of the building.  In all, 6,831 square feet of old carpet was 100% recycled and used as the backing for new carpet.  

Even the new parking lot was engineered with the “green” philosophy in mind.  Instead of regular concrete pavement, the lot was constructed with Drain-Crete, a pervious concrete mix that allows rain to flow through it and into the soil, replenishing ground water and eliminating runoff into local watersheds.  It also allows more air and water to reach roots of plants and trees, filters out water-borne pollutants and reflects light better than normal pavements, which in turn can cut the need for lighting and reduce lighting costs by up to 30%.

These are just a few of the beginning efforts of Peninsula Regional’s Go-Green initiative. That according to Bruce Patterson, Executive Director of Facilities and Properties and head of the Green Team, “This will be an ongoing effort that will involve a lot of input and brainstorming from all members of our team, one of the first goals we have is to raise awareness hospital-wide and to get everyone on board.  Every little change we make will have an overall impact, but the key here is going to be getting everyone involved and taking responsibility. It’s just the right thing to do.” 

It’s for these accomplishments and their continuous efforts to be an industry leader in eco-friendly practices that Peninsula Regional Medical Center was chosen to receive the WMDT/Mountaire Farms Environmental Star of the Month Award for the month of April.

“I have always been intrigued and impressed to learn how someone rises to the top of an organization. In the case of Peggy Naleppa, President and CEO at Peninsula Regional Medical Center, it is a story that’s impressive indeed. Peggy began her medical career as a student nurse, then a career in nursing, continued her studies and was ultimately rewarded with multiple degrees in Medicine, Business Administration, and on and on. She’s a hands-on administrative advocate and proponent of what management needs to be in today’s medical-business world of left brain-right-brain specialists (possessing and promoting analytical and compassionate coordination skills).  We cheer PRMC for its dedication to make environmental and physical changes that accomplish the right things in the place where patients, staff and community live, work, play and pray.” - Roger Marino, Mountaire Director of Community Relations.

Mrs. Erika Phillips 
Teacher at Worcester Prep.'s Lower School, Berlin, MD
Honored March '10

WMDT Channel 47 and Mountaire Farms were proud to announce Mrs. Erika Phillips, the computer lab teacher for grades K- 5 at Worcester Prep’s Lower School, as the WMDT/Mountaire Environmental Star of the Month award winner for March.

Teaching the leaders of tomorrow the benefits of Global Water Conservation efforts; that is just one principle Erika Phillips is trying to instill in her 5^th grade students at Worcester Prep. Beginning last spring, Erika started enrolling her 5^th grade computer lab students in the NAIS Challenge 20/20 program. This internet-based program pairs children from around the world in teams to tackle global problems at a local level. In 2009, her students, paired with students in Hollywood, CA, were assigned the environmental topic of water deficit. Throughout the ’09 spring semester the (2) schools researched the issue of Earth’s limited water supply, examined ways to conserve water at home and in the community as well as how to communicate these issues to others. Communicating through wikis, blogs, and video conferences, students shared what it is like growing up in different parts of the country; the problems faced here on the Delmarva Peninsula and in the state of California. 

Taking what they learned, the class developed various educational aides to promote the water deficit topic and educate others on how they can help reduce water usage and in turn save energy and our clean drinking water. All students took home a checklist entitled, Student and Family Pledge To Filter Out Bad Water Habits, and with the help of their families, took action to ensure they were practicing efficient water usage inside their own homes. Checking all fixtures for leaks, taking shorter showers, watering the lawn in the morning or evening to reduce water loss to evaporation; were just a few of the items the youngsters tackled around the home. The class even developed a public service announcement video in order to share their knowledge with others. The video was unveiled to families at Grandparents Day and to school mates during a school assembly on Earth Day. Copies of the video were then sent to the partner school in California to help spread the word.

To help further the education process and give the class an opportunity to share what they had learned, students engaged in discussions with local community leaders on the topic. Mayor Gee Williams of Berlin spoke to them on the towns “Green” efforts and listened to student feedback on water and energy conservation. Jane Kreiter, Town of Berlin Director of Wastewater Management, fascinated the class with her description of how the town recycles its water and uses it to irrigate natural areas and Dr. John Grout, a member of the Wicomico Environmental Trust, spoke on aquifers and groundwater.

Guiding them through it all was Erika, taking great pride in the environmental knowledge and experiences her students were gaining from the program. In just her 5^th year of teaching, Erika Phillips has made it her personal goal to instill a sense of environmental pride in all of her students. By enrolling her 5^th grade classes in the NAIS Challenge 20/20, she is showing her students how their individual actions can make a difference and giving them a taste of what life is like for others their age, not only in America, but around the globe. Mrs. Phillips current 5^th graders are just beginning the program and are teamed up with a school in Indiana as well as a school in Kenya. Once again their topic is the global water deficit, a topic Mrs. Phillips feels her students can appreciate.

“Considering we are surrounded by water here on the Peninsula, I thought our students would be fascinated to learn the intricacies of water and the issues facing our water supply, both here and around the globe.” – Erika Phillips, Worcester Prep. Lower School Teacher 

It is for her efforts and the achievements of her students, that Mountaire is proud to recognize Erika Phillips as an Environmental Star.

“Erika Phillips is representative of the many educators who have identified environmental science as a major part of their academics teaching program and incorporated these hands-on programs into the classroom studies. Erika has taken the learning process to global networking with people and students from countries around the world so that her students can communicate with their peers and learn first-hand about the shortage of water in other lands, a resource we sometimes take for granted on our Delmarva surrounded by that precious resource.

Beebe Medical Center
Lewes, DE
Honored January '10

WMDT Channel 47 and Mountaire Farms were award Beebe Medical Center the month of January’s Environmental Star Award.  With a focus on becoming a better steward of the environment, Beebe has begun using environmentally friendly food service products throughout the entire medical center.  Back in August of ‘09 new product lines were introduced such as Tater Ware, “Earth Cup”, and Greenware product lines of biodegradable, food service containers and utensils.  All of these products, made from plants, are approved by the Federal Department of Agriculture for direct food contact and are alternatives to the traditional plastic products made from petroleum.

These specific environmentally friendly items already integrated into the Medical Centers restaurants and patient rooms include: disposable knives, forks and spoons; two sizes of plates; cups for hot and cold drinks as well as straws.  These new initiatives are great compliments to previously installed recycling programs which have been in the works for years, such as recycling aluminum cans, plastic bottles, batteries and cardboard, all helping to not only decrease the amount of waste going into landfills, but decreasing the amount of time their waste contribution takes to breakdown.   

Ranger Gary Adelhardt 
Pocomoke River State Forest
Honored December '09

In December of 2009 WMDT Channel 47 and Mountaire Farms announced Ranger Gary Adelhardt of the Pocomoke River State Park as the WMDT/Mountaire Environmental Star Award winner for the month of December. Ranger Gary’s efforts in creating and running the innovative Park Quest program is helping promote the beauty and entertainment value of our national and state park systems, as well as preservation efforts needed to keep our environment clean and safe for future generations.

“It's a fun way for families to learn about science, the outdoors, and experience a new activity they may have never done before," said Ranger Gary. "If children lose all connection with the outdoor world, they're not going to care enough to preserve it in the future." 

It's a mixture of Survivor, Amazing Race and The Great Park Pursuit! And it's a race to the finish line. The Park Quest program was designed to encourage families to enjoy Maryland State Parks in a unique, competitive & interactive format during the early spring and summer months. Teams (families) can be as small or as big as you like, as long as it consists of at least one adult and one child 16 or under who are related to one another. Interested families register online at www.dnr.maryland.gov and are sent a Park Quest Passport which contains information on the various quests available and information on how to complete them. In 2009 there were 14 Quests throughout the state of Maryland ranging from canoe trips to Janes Island State Park in Somerset County to Deep Creek Lake in Garrett County. Each quest is its own scavenger hunt which entails following clues and answering questions about the individual parks, as well as gathering photos and keeping team diaries on each adventure. Each quest is tailored to fit the various parks, so families must seek out and enjoy all the natural beauty and history the park has to offer. Teams who completed at least 8 of the 14 available quests could enter into a season finale contest amongst other teams for a chance to win prizes. 

“Of course families are not required to complete 8 or more quests to become a part of the program,” says Ranger Gary; “whether they complete just 1 or all 14, the goal is to bring families together in our natural environment to show all generations what the outdoors has to offer and how our actions can affect nature in a positive or negative manner.” 

The Maryland Park Quest program has grown tremendously in a short period of time. In 2009, in just its second year, Park Quest had over 300 families complete at least one quest, which was up considerably from its inaugural year. Because of the success of his program, Ranger Gary has been asked to speak with agencies across country to help develop similar initiatives in other states, and has seen his Park Quest Program be nominated for an APPL Media & Partnership Award, which is through the Association of Partners for Public Land (APPL). 

"We travel all of Delmarva looking for people who are proficient in the sciences, the environmental sciences. That's what this program is all about," said Roger Marino Corporate Community Relations Director of Mountaire Farms. “Ranger Gary started this program at the local level, but now it's receiving national attention.”

Reese Cropper
President of Insurance Management Group

An Ocean City business man is also making it his business to protect the environment around him. Reese Cropper, the President of Insurance Management Group, purchased property in Ocean City about six years ago. At that time the area was overgrown with phragmites, an invasive plant that was killing other plants in the area. "Phragmites are very unattractive. In addition to that I knew that the marsh land was really being destroyed by the phragmites, so I thought it was a duel purpose cutting them down as well as helping the marsh," said Cropper.

Cropper's mission to restore the marsh has earned him this month's Environmental Star award. Roger Marino, of Mountaire Farms says he is a perfect example to those around him. "He lives here in the community. He works here in the community, and he's really interested in the health of the community around him," said Marino.
The marsh not only filters pollution entering the Bay, it has also brought new life to the area. "Actually now for the first time I have even little small turtles that you will see crawling out of there. It's amazing the number of things you'll see," said Cropper.

Cropper says it is on ongoing effort keep the phragmites out of the area. An effort that has been validated by several environmental groups to help restore the Coastal Bay's.

Captain Edward E. Henifin, USN (Ret.)

A WMDT/ Mountaire Environmental Star, Captain Edward E. Henifin, USN (Ret)., graduated from the United States Naval Academy, 1954 BS Naval Science University of Washington, 1962 BS Physical Oceanography; Submarines and Submarine Rescue 1956-1975; Navy Research and Development 1975-1983. Career highlights: OinC, TRIESTE DSV-1; Commanding Officer, USS PROMFRET (SS-391); Commanding Officer, NAVAL RESEARCH LABORATORY; Senior Engineer, Science Applications International Corporation.

As the CO of the Laboratory  he was known as Captain OFF and pushed for the conservation of lighting; Captain Henifin rode a bike or walked wherever he  had to go anywhere on the campus. At every meeting or building visit he lectured about saving energy and to turn off unneeded lights. “I got the various divisions to turn in any phone that was not use in one billing cycle. I pushed to get the methane that the waste water plant of Washington which was being burned. The Lab was next door to the plant and we used oil to fire the boilers in the Power plant. I encouraged changing the boilers to use the methane and we did reduce the Labs requirement for oil. I also asked the employees to car pool and had some success in changing driving habits” says Captain Henifin.

Henifin was fully retired in 1991 and began his voluntary career with the Bush Hill Presbyterian Church on the Building Grounds committee; Chairman of Christmas in April 1981-1998; member of the Building and Grounds, Committee; Bush Hill Presbyterian Church, 1983-1998

Buzz was a member of the board of the RPJ Housing Corporation 1987-1991; Center for the Inland Bays 1998-present (James Farm maintenance 1999-2007; Citizen Advisory Committee 1999-2007, Chair of Citizen Advisory Committee 2002-2006, Pollution Control Strategy Group 1998-2008, worked at James Farm at the Fall barbeques and the Spring Native Plant sales)

In 2002 Buzz Henifin was awarded Center for Inland Bays “Friend of the Bays”, for his diligent volunteer work to clean up the waterways and again received that designation in 2005.

He was voted to the Town of Fenwick Island, Maryland, Council person chair where he served from 1999-2003; the Fenwick Island Environmental Committee 2003-present and co-chair of that committee from  2008-present).

Henifin increased the community recycling program in Fenwick Island, DE during the past year. As Co-Chair of the Environmental Committee Buzz has been instrumental in town wide curbside recycling. Through the development of his representation to the Town Manager he convinced the town that the Town Hall should be the leader in Delaware recycling.

During his commitment to environmental programs Buzz Henifin was Instrumental in leading the way for the use of rain barrels for the recycling of storm water runoff of roofs and worked with the town to install the program at Town Hall.

 At his home, Henifin has signed up to get 100% wind power generated electricity.  A true lover of the sea and its products, Buzz Henifin has been an Oyster farmer for several years, starting when CIB first funded a program to establish oysters in Little Assawoman Bay. His involvement grew to where he had as many as seven floats with spat/oysters last year to be recycled throughout the bay areas.

Henifin works every day with the Delaware Center of Inland Bays to increase the number of oyster farmers each year. During the past couple of years Buzz and partners have grown the number of volunteer persons who are interested in the science of farming oysters for the replenishment and purity of the Delaware bays to 50 members.

Jim Passwaters
Honored in January '09 

"They're just all around good. Everybody loves trees."

So says Jim Passwaters, the recipient of Mountaire Farm's Environmental Star award. In his work with Delmarva Poultry Industry, he plants walls of trees around farms to help the environment. Passwaters explained, "We want to plant a buffer around these to capture any excess ammonia that may come out, any dust, help with noise, help with any nutrients that may be in the soil and help beautify the farms."

His work has touched the Peterman farm, where 350 trees have been planted and their presence is already making a difference. Farmer Scott Peterman said, "We've already seen figures up 25% in fuel efficiency just from the trees alone on the farm."

Passwaters said, "It's not instantaneous, but in 4 to 5 years, you can see what kind of progress we've had with these trees."

According to Passwaters, the process of planting trees is not only beneficial, but inexpensive with funding from the local NRCS office.

And these trees are also bettering the economy. He said, "Local nurseries benefit from the purchasing of the trees. Miles of irrigation have been laid, so irrigation supply companies make money."

The news of the giving trees has already spread across the country, even to Europe. And this Environmental Star is prepared to go wherever his trees will take him. Passwaters said, "I love working with people and I've met a lot of good people in the past year."
 

Cheryl Rehrig
Indian River High School Environmental Club
Honored in December '08 

Every month, Mountaire Farms honors a Delmarva resident for their positive impact on the environment. For December, a group accepted the honor.

Some students are able to give themselves a pat on the back. With the help of their teacher they're having a positive impact on the Environment.

Indian River High School Advisor Cheryl Rehrig says, "We started the environment club a year ago. The purpose was to increase the awareness of environment issues in our area and to have the students become more informed."

Since the club started they took on the task of creating a wetland.

Rehrig says, "We took a barren area and we put grasses and swail. We turned it into a living environment, where we have all types of insects and frogs and beautiful flowers."

The hard work of Cheryl Rehrig and her students at Indian River high school sparked the attention of Roger Marino earning them the Environmental Star of the Month Award.

Marino says, "This is a classroom project and an interest in what we do, what the environment means to the area itself. It's extremely important to the growth and vitality of Delmarva Itself."

Student Cristal Wright says, "I learned a lot about the environment. I learned about different kind of things, you can do your own part."

Dale Story
Honored in October '08

Dale is the fifth generation of his family to farm in Queen Anne County, Maryland.  Dale and his wife, Jody, with daughters, Hanna and Rachael, farm approximately 600 acres.  The Story’s Village View Farm produces corn, wheat, soybeans, hay, and added chickens to their farming operation in 2006.

The Store family is very concerned with preserving the environment of Queen Anne County.   They have participated in the Soil Conservation Cover Crop Program every year since its introduction.  Other programs involved with are the E.Q.U.I.P. grass buffers and recently added heavy use area pads for the poultry operation to prevent run off.

Ed Lewandowski
Honored in September '08

Ed is the Executive Director of The Delaware Center For The Inland Bays and says he's both humbled and honored to receive this award.

As the Executive Director for the Delaware Center For the Inland Bays, Lewandowski works in a building that is environmentally friendly, featuring "green" design elements and materials.

Lewandowski's goal is to promote the wise use and enhancement of the Inland Bays and their watersheds. He also devotes his time to creating a stronger non-profit organization by finding skilled, talented volunteers.

Lewandowski says his accomplishments wouldn't have been possible without his co-workers. He says, "It may sound cliché, but I don't think this award is about me. I'm just an individual who has the opportunity to work with numerous individuals who are incredibly talented, dedicated, and skilled. They're passionate about restoring the inland bays."

Lewandowski says his success is also a result of the partnerships the non-profit organization has formed with businesses like Mountaire Farms. 

William Leager
Honored in July '08

William Leager is a poultry farmer, but officials say the Environmental Star could be a scientist whose research has a positive impact on the environment or just someone who encourages recycling in the workplace.

William Leager says he's honored to be the Environmental Star for the month of July. Leager has been a poultry farmer for three years, and he says it's a family business.

In order to make his farm more environmentally friendly, Leager has planted a vegetative environmental buffer or a line of trees around the perimeter of his farm.   He also uses the Single-Stream Curbside Recycling Program which allows him to put all of his recyclables in one bin with no sorting.

Leager says, "We have to do what we have to do to keep ourselves in a good light. It's a matter of pride too. This is our farm and we want it to be the best it can be."

Mountaire officials say Leager's farm is a perfect example of a clean poultry farm.

Scott Peterman
Honored in '07 

Mountaire grower Scott Peterman is the 2007 winner!  Scott has been growing with Mountaire for 14 years.  Since his poultry farm purchase in 1996, Scott has implemented practices to enhance the farm’s visual appearance and also to minimize odors in the surrounding area.  In 2003, hundreds of Leland Cypress trees were planted around Scott’s poultry facilities as a beautification effort and to help protect his houses from winter weather.  The trees, planted on the north and west side of his poultry houses, act as a windbreak resulting in tremendous energy cost savings.   Not only do they block cold northerly winds, they are protection from snow drifts.  Prior to the plantings, Scott could spend hours clearing snow that would drift up against the houses.

In addition to the Leland Cypress planting, drainage swales have been constructed around the poultry facilities which are lined with grasses to absorb any nutrient runoff.  All poultry mortality is composted in an approved 40’ X 60’ manure shed/composter.  A certified Private Nutrient Handler uses all manure and compost on cropland, such as corn, soybeans, and winter wheat.   These Best Management Practices protect surrounding areas from nutrient runoff.

The Peterman’s are strong advocates of wildlife preservation.  In the winter months, when food for wildlife is scarce, salt licks and corn are provided for the deer herd as well as for wild turkeys.  Nut bearing trees have been planted for food, and underbrush provided for small wildlife.

The Peterman’s are proud of their farming operation and take pride in the stewardship practices that have  implemented.  Mountaire Farms is proud to have them on our team.