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Award presentations were made during the association's Environmental Management Seminar recently held in Nashville. Winners were selected by a committee consisting of university personnel, industry engineers and managers as well as state regulatory officials.
Two awards categories exist. The full-treatment category covers facilities that fully reclaim wastewater prior to discharge into a receiving stream or final land application system. The pretreatment category includes facilities that discharge pretreated effluent to publicly owned, full treatment facilities. Keystone Foods won in the pretreatment category. Its Gadsden facility was recognized for its pretreatment of wastewater with integrated aerobic and anoxic zones and secondary DAF for clarification. The facility was designed with the latest safety and energy savings technologies applied to its design.
After being a runner-up in last year’s competition, Perdue Farms won for full-treatment for its slaughter and further-processing operations. It received the award for full treatment of wastewater, based on community service and electromagnetic treatment of DAF flow that reduces chemicals. The water-treatment process uses a three-polymer system in a dissolved air flotation unit and a PLC system to control polymer dosing. The system enhances effluent quality and streamlines management control. Its facility is located on 700 rural acres, with approximately 350 acres set aside for wildlife habitat conservation.
Receiving an honorable mention in the full treatment category, American Proteins operates on an Environmental Management System with a formal set of procedures and policies. A cover over its anaerobic lagoon reduces odor emissions and provides for the recovery and reuse of biogas for use in boilers. Thirty-million gallons of water are recycled every day. The facility, which is situated on 600 acres, uses 100 acres – which leaves 500 acres for wildlife habitat.
