ATLANTA, Oct. 8, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pull-A-Part, (www.pullapart.com) the award-winning family business serving the do-it-yourself, used auto parts market, has earned four 2014 environmental awards from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry. Atlanta-based Pull-A-Part provides affordable used auto parts to do-it-yourself consumers, while also providing high quality scrap metal, fluids and plastics for recycling.
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Pull-A-Part received the following awards: the 2014 Award for Water Quality; the 2014 Award for Air Quality; a Certificate of Recognition in Solid and Hazardous Waste Management; and a Certificate of Recognition for Environmental Excellence. These awards recognize businesses that have demonstrated outstanding achievement toward environmental protection and enhancement as well as proactive and innovative energy projects. Pull-A-Part was acknowledged for preventing water and air pollution, reducing waste sent to landfills, conserving resources, and overall environmental excellence at its locations in Knoxville, Memphis and Nashville. The company earned its first Tennessee environmental achievement award from the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry in 2006.
By developing a unique operating system based on customer service and environmental responsibility, Pull-A-Part has transformed what was once thought of as the junkyard into a sustainable recycling business. Since its founding in 1997, the company has made an exceptional commitment to resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention, earning acclaim for outstanding corporate and environmental citizenship from a number of federal, state and local organizations. In Tennessee, the company has been recognized by the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry; the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation; the Tennessee Department of Transportation; Keep Tennessee Beautiful; the Memphis Fire Services Division; and the Rural/Metro Fire Department in Knoxville.
"The management of end-of-life vehicles in Tennessee directly affects air quality, water purity and the volume of waste in state landfills, and Pull-A-Part, at its three Tennessee locations, prevents water pollution, reduces waste sent to landfills and conserves resources," said Amy G. Martin, Associate Vice President, Environment & Energy Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry Tennessee Manufacturers Association. "Pull-A-Part sets the standard for handling and recycling end-of-life vehicles because of its intentional commitment to resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention."
Automobiles are the leading recycled product in the United States, and Pull-A-Part developed an innovative reclamation and recycling process that reduces the amount of waste from each end-of-life car by 21 percent when compared to typical shredded vehicles.
In addition, since the beginning of its operations in Tennessee, the company has recovered more than 40,000 mercury switches from old cars in Tennessee and delivered them for recycling. This figure represents 54 percent of all mercury switches recovered in the State. Each switch, if not recycled, has the potential to contaminate 132,000 gallons of water above the U.S. EPA drinking water standard. Pull-A-Part's mercury switch recovery in Tennessee, alone, has prevented the potential contamination of more than 5.5 billion gallons of the state's water – equivalent to a 170 acre lake, 100 feet deep. As part of its process, Pull-A-Part also saved approximately 200,000 tons of CO2 equivalent in Tennessee.
"Pull-A-Part is honored to be counted among the select number of Tennessee businesses being acknowledged for environmental leadership in 2014, and we are grateful to the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce & Industry for presenting us with awards in a number of categories this year -- and in years past," said Ross Kogon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pull-A-Part. "Pull-A-Part traces its roots to a business begun 106 years ago, when our family member, Morris Cohen, began buying used appliances and scrap, cleaning them up and selling them or their components for a modest profit. Even then, our business was based on the value of reclamation. Pull-A-Part is proving that in the 21st century, environmental stewardship, customer service and financial sustainability are equal components of a successful business."
The Tennessee Chamber's Environment and Energy Awards ceremony was held on October 2, 2014 at the Nashville Renaissance. Steve Levetan, Executive Vice President of Pull-A-Part, participated in the event, accepting the environmental awards on behalf of the company.
Editor's Note:
Pull-A-Part, with headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia, is an award-winning family business serving the do it-yourself, used auto parts market. By developing a unique operating system based on customer service and environmental responsibility, Pull-A-Part has transformed what was once thought of as the junkyard into a sustainable recycling business. Founded in 1997, Pull-A-Part operates a network of 28 used auto parts superstores in 12 states. The company has been acclaimed for outstanding corporate citizenship by federal, state and local organizations.
The company has made an exceptional commitment to resource conservation, waste reduction and pollution prevention. This orientation allows Pull-A-Part to provide affordable used auto parts to do-it-yourself consumers, while providing high quality scrap metal, fluids and plastics for recycling. Recycling diverts these materials from the waste stream and helps protect the air, water and soil from pollution.
More information is available at: www.pullapart.com, www.facebook.com/pullapartauto and www.twitter.com/pullapartauto.
