Fifth Third Madisonville campus wins recycling award | Business

MADISONVILLE, OH (FOX19) - Fifth Third bank announced on Thursday that they have been recognized as Recycling at Work Program of the Year by the Hamilton County Recycling and Solid Waste District. 

The Recycling at Work Program of the Year award recognizes an organization that has implemented a successful, comprehensive recycling program that makes recycling and waste reduction options available to all employees.

Fifth Third’s Madisonville campus recycling program was implemented one year ago in November 2011 on the occasion of America Recycles Day. The program operates at the George A. Schaefer, Jr. Madisonville Operations Center and the Madisonville Operations Building, both located in Cincinnati on Interstate 71.  More than 5,000 Fifth Third Bank employees work at the two facilities. 

Sparked by intense employee interest, the program was originally envisioned to be a program in which non-confidential paper, cans and bottles were recycled. However, given that the campus operates on-site food service facilities, the Bank had the opportunity to also include food scrap composting.  Both elements of the program were instituted simultaneously. 

Much of the early success of the program was due to an intense communications and employee engagement effort.  In addition to developing the program with employee input, much time and effort was put into creating proper signage and educating employees on what could and should be recycled and placed in the appropriate bins. The program has reduced landfill tonnage by nearly 17 percent compared to pre-program levels. 

"We are incredibly honored to receive Program of the Year honors from the Hamilton Country Recycling and Solid Waste District,” said William J. Moran, senior vice president and director of Corporate Facilities for Fifth Third Bank.  “We are committed to environmental sustainability and are deeply humbled that our efforts are being recognized. We are proud that we’ve collaborated with our employees to make a positive impact in our headquarters city and its natural environment.”

The Madisonville effort led to the launch of a new recycling pilot project last month which includes 19 banking centers and a mid-size office building. These 20 facilities now have new interior recycling containers that are accessible to customers and employees.  Acceptable recyclable materials include non-confidential paper, cardboard, plastic bottles and jugs, glass bottles and jars, and metal cans.