Next week the Pfizer facility in Lititz, Lancaster County, will be announced as one of the National Pollution Prevention Round Table’s 2004 Most Valuable Pollution Prevention (MVP2) award winners.

Collectively, the 12 award winners reduced pollution by 3 billion pounds, conserved 80 million KwH of electricity, all while cutting costs by $30 million. Their collective efforts are equivalent to taking 3 million cars off the road.

Pfizer Lititz,the major supplier of Listerine Mouthwash brands to the world market, is being honored for their work reducing waste and instating a mouthwash reclamation process.

Through the use of a new method of cleaning tanks and product lines along with the optimization of all available resources, they were able to reduce mouthwash waste by 14 percent. Management has demonstrated its commitment to the company’s environmental goals by funding this effort despite higher initial costs over disposal.

In 2003, the Pfizer plant also won a Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence for reducing energy use and being a leader in the Susquehanna Ozone Action Partnership and involved in Businesses for the Bay and the Lititz Run Watershed Alliance.

The MVP2 Awards are part of the National Pollution Prevention Week celebrations running from September 20 to 26. Previous Pennsylvania winners include American Video Glass and Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical.

Reminder: Applications for the 2004 Governor’s Award for Environmental Excellence are being accepted through October 22.

9/17/2004