Workers collect plastic for recycling at Ford's Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights. (Credit: Fox 2 News)
STERLING HEIGHTS, Mich. (WJBK) -
Ford's 2.2 million square foot Van Dyke Transmission Plant covers 145 acres in Sterling Heights, and as you can imagine, it generates tons of waste during the process of making transmissions for the Taurus, Fusion, Explorer and other vehicles.
Dave Lewis, an environmental engineer with the automaker, said none of the waste generated at the plant goes to a landfill.
"What we've achieved in our plant is all manufacturing and production waste [is] now recycled," he explained.
This is Ford's first North American transmission plant with that distinction. There are 13 others worldwide.
Lewis showed us the various materials being recycled. They include adhesive, aluminum chips shaved off during manufacturing, plastic, fabric coolant filters and chalk used in the filtration process.
Their efforts are part of the automaker's global waste reduction strategy to keep 40 percent of waste per vehicle out of landfills by 2016. That is a little more than 13 pounds per vehicle. It's a green initiative the company and local workers are proud of.
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A Detroit-based startup is taking off and installing green energy systems across the globe. They are taking a unique approach using a network of expert "freelancers."
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Detroit Mayor Dave Bing was among dozens of volunteers who came out to clean up various neighborhoods Saturday. It was all part of Motor City makeover, now in it's second weekend.
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It was supposed to be their big night, but prom turned into a big headache for teens from a local high school. Police showed up to crack down on an unauthorized limo service.
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"We intend to build cars in North America for [the] North American market, build cars in Europe for the European market and build them in Asia for the Asian market," said Don Graunstadt.
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Sabrina Gianino was found dead with a cord around her neck inside a Grosse Pointe Park home early Thursday morning. The medical examiner has ruled her death a homicide.
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Workers collect plastic for recycling at Ford's Van Dyke Transmission Plant in Sterling Heights. (Credit: Fox 2 News)
