Toyota in Los Angeles County Earns Top Waste-Cutting Honors

Car Company Cuts Waste, Boosts Savings

TORRANCE, CA - February 27, 2007: The California Integrated Waste Management Board honored Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. yesterday with the Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) of the Year (WOTY). TMS was awarded with top honors in a field of more than 1,200 other Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) winners for its success in waste reduction and recycling on its headquarters campus facility and Los Angeles Parts Distribution Center (LA PDC).

"Every year California reaps the benefits of conscientious and responsible companies that understand their responsibilities to the environment, economy and community," said Board Chair Margo Reid Brown. "It is truly amazing to see what can be accomplished when businesses recognize the potential impacts of their actions and then take steps to ensure they are part of the solution."

TMS received the honor partly due to the LA PDC's efforts to reduce waste generation by 40 percent since 2003, using programs such as returnable shipping containers, packaging reduction, and waste recycling. Additionally, the LA PDC implemented an auto glass recycling program, recycling 11 tons of glass windshields since the program began in August 2006. In December 2006, TMS also achieved zero waste to landfill at its headquarters campus.

"This recognition from the California Integrated Waste Management Board validates waste management efforts in commerce," said Bob Pitts, group vice president of administrative services. "In the spirit of our Global Earth Charter and our continuous improvement philosophy, we will work to pursue new and improved methods to lessen our environmental footprint."

In recognition of California businesses' widespread commitment to cutting their excess disposal tonnages, the Board bestowed WRAP honors, some of the most coveted State workplace conservation awards, on 1,254 retail and commercial outlets that managed to make the bottom line even greener in 2006. This year's WRAP honorees, comprising 1,254 businesses, diverted an estimated 1,207,827 tons of material, with a cost savings of approximately $112,213,589 to their bottom line.

Previous Years Awarded: 2005

Innovative and environmentally conscientious businesses have helped move California to a waste reduction and recycling pinnacle, diverting enormous amounts of materials from landfills, conserving limited natural resources by re-marketing salvaged goods, cutting disposal related expenses and reaping financial gains from doing what's right.

Approximately half of the state's 88 million-ton annual waste stream comes from the business sector and the WRAP awards honor California companies and nonprofits for workplace solutions to cut waste and reduce disposal. This year 1,254 businesses are being recognized for their commitment to a range of environmentally preferable business practices, including innovative reuse and recycling achievements, resource conservation, donating usable goods to nonprofit organizations, conducting employee education programs, buying recycled-content supplies for the workplace, and managing electronic waste responsibly. With better materials management, many businesses realize substantial savings in operating costs.

To search and view a complete list of local WRAP winners and their locations by county, please visit this site: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/Search.asp

Open to businesses and private, nonprofit organizations, the WRAP awards were initiated in 1993 to recognize California companies that develop innovative and aggressive programs to reduce the amount of nonhazardous solid waste they generate. To date, more than 15,000 WRAP honors have been awarded. For continuing, and often increasing, their waste reduction practices from year to year, many businesses have earned the award several times since the program started.

All WRAP awardees receive a certificate of recognition from the Chair and Members of the California Integrated Waste Management Board, as well as the right to use the WRAP logo for promotional advertising and publicity about their accomplishments.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is the state's leading authority on recycling and waste reduction. It promotes reducing waste whenever possible, managing all materials to their highest and best use and protecting public health and safety and the environment.

The California Integrated Waste Management Board is one of six boards, departments, and offices within the California Environmental Protection Agency (Cal/EPA).