Ford’s Landfill-Free Plants
To be a global leader, you have to think of being more than a leader in automotive technology but being a leader in where your discarded items should go.
Ford has created a system in the Essex, Windsor, and Oakville plants to create a zero waste-to-landfill process and has proven that Ford is the global leader in more than just innovations inside your Ford’s engine bays and cabins, but at their manufacturing facilities as well.
“Reducing waste is a crucial part of our strategy toward building a world-class manufacturing system,” said Anthony Hoskins, director of manufacturing. “We are leveraging the power of our Ford Production System by applying standard waste reduction processes across our facilities.”
That reduction process started at the Essex Engine Plant in 2012 where the facility did not allow the cardboard and wooden crate parts end up in their local landfills, at all. Then in 2013, the Windsor Engine Plant achieved landfill free status and since then the Oakville Assembly Plant and 21 other facilities worldwide have also achieved this amazing status.
Oakville in particular recycled close to 2000-metric tons of wood, cardboard, plastic, and paper alone in 2013. It is one of Canada’s largest Ford plants at close to 5.5-million square feet on 487-acres.
“Zero waste-to-landfill is made possible through the support of our entire team and a deep commitment to sustainability throughout our plant,” said Will Cowell, Oakville Assembly plant manager.
“Many years of process improvement to reduce, reuse and recycle in every way led to this achievement and we’re just as committed to continuing on this path with the same rigor that brought us here.”
