Symmetry Medical Praised for Using Five Pounds Less Mercury
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Daniel Riordan-driordan@timesuniononline.com
A local orthopedic company was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency Monday morning.
Three Symmetry Medical plants were recognized by the EPA for mercury reductions taken at their plants.
Those plants include two in Warsaw and one in Claypool.
Janet Haff, waste minimization coordinator for the EPA Region 5, was on hand to give out the awards.
Region 5 includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota.
Sixteen companies in Region 5 were recognized.
Symmetry Medical was able to reduce five pounds of mercury from its plants. Haff said that while five pounds may not sound like a lot, for mercury it is.
Another Symmetry plant in Michigan will be recognized next month, said Haff.
Not only was Symmetry awarded Monday morning, but Paul Sparkman was given an National Partnership for Environmental PrioritiesâChampion Award.
Haff said only two such awards were given out.
Sparkman was recognized for his efforts to implement the mercury reduction at Symmetry.
Haff said she hoped to continue her relationship with Symmetry Medical as the EPA moves toward another program involving sustainable materials.
“It was a focus of ours and a team effort,”âsaid Darin Martin, Symmetry senior vice president and chief compliance officer. “It’s important for us to be good environmental neighbors and for our customers.”
Sparkman said part of the reason Symmetry was able to implement its mercury reduction plan is because the plants are ISO 140001 certified.
Sparkman said the company spent a year working on the plan.
“It’s an important aspect for this company to focus on health and safety, not just for our employees but in the communities we operate in,” he said.
Under the NPEP program, which is a voluntary reduction program, the company eliminated mercury containing devices from their plants.
The NPEP program is focused on promoting source reduction, working to identify environmentally preferable alternatives, fostering technology transfer and cultivating collaborative relationships between EPA and public and private organizations.
