ABC Recycling has been around for 101 years, but the company only recently received its first environmental award.
The Burnaby-based company was awarded the Private Sector Achievement Award by the Recycling Council of B.C.
ABC Recycling is a family enterprise and recovers, processes and recycles scrap metal.
It has eight locations across B.C. and Alberta with more than 200 employees, with customers in Western Canada and around the world.
"It's very exciting," Karen Bichin, ABC's manager of community relations, told the NOW. "We're really proud of receiving this award, and I think it's just a great testament of our commitment to environmental sustainability and doing business the right away. It's a big part of our philosophy."
ABC Recycling diverts up to 20,000 tons per month of ferrous and non-ferrous scrap metal from municipal landfills, employs a full-time environment officer, and it recycles different kinds of scrap metals from households, scrap automobiles, industrial construction and demolition sites, which it then sells worldwide.
Bichin, whose great-grandfather and grandfather founded the company, said ABC partners with the Kidney Foundation of Canada, as well.
Bichin's company is part of the kidney car program and metal program.
"People have the opportunity to donate their vehicle that needs to be scrapped or recycled, and they receive a tax receipt for $300," Bichin explained.
The vehicle is then towed, recycled and the money from selling its scrap metal is donated to the foundation.
"It's a creative way of implementing and maintaining sustainable practices," Bichin said. "(It's) a way we're able to give back to the community."
ABC has also taken the Burnaby Board of Trade's Pledge for a Sustainable Community program.
"We were one of the first companies to sign on," she said. "We also try to come up with new initiatives to maintain and further our sustainable business practices."
The company also received the Employee Campaign Loyalty Award from Scotiabank and the United Way in 2011 and was recognized as Business of the Year at the Burnaby Business Excellence Awards in 2008.
For more information, visit www.abc recycling.com.
