Warren, Michigan - General Motors has announced a commitment to make half of its major global manufacturing operations landfill-free by the end of 2010, with all production waste or garbage recycled or reused. When translated to an individual facility basis, the commitment means than more than 80 of the company’s manufacturing operations will become landfill-free over the next 28 months.

The company announced that 33 global operations have recently reached landfill-free status, bringing the total number to 43. At these plants, over 96 per cent of waste materials are recycled or reused, and more than 3 per cent are converted to energy at waste-to-energy facilities.

“Through innovation and commitment, GM is accelerating our efforts to be a leader in finding solutions to the environmental issues facing our world,” said Gary Cowger, GM group vice president of global manufacturing and labour. “As we develop new solutions in vehicle propulsion, GM is also making significant progress in reducing the impact our worldwide facilities have on the environment.”

As a result of its global recycling efforts, GM’s recycled scrap metal sales are approaching US$1 billion in annual revenue; in North America alone, it will further generate about US$16 million from the sale of recycled cardboard, wood, oil, plastic and other materials. Over 3 million tons of waste materials will be recycled or reused worldwide this year, with an additiona 50,000 tons converted to energy.

Included among the landfill-free plants are St. Catharines, Ontario; Silao, Mexico; Ramos Arizpe, Mexico; Tonawanda, New York; Wixom, Michigan; and Bupyeong, Korea.