The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment recognizes the Dow Corning Midland site with its Neighborhood Environmental Partners Award.
The state gave the award for Dow Corning's recycling and emergency response programs.
Midland's Arnold Center employs special needs workers to pick up office supply waste from Dow Corning.
Metal clips, binders, and other reusable items are sifted out of the pile while the rest goes to the shredder. The bales of paper are then sold to a paper mill.
Charles Markey, president of the Arnold Center, says "We'll take off things that are reuseable or further recyclable. What we don't use, we send to the Volunteers Recycling Center out at the Midland drop site."
Because of the supply from Dow Corning, eight jobs were created to pick up the material and sort through the paper and cardboard.
Markey says, "It's a win-win-win for everybody."
Dow Corning and the Arnold Center have been partners for more than 20 years.
James Smith, Dow Corning Midland Site Manager, says "You want to make sure the community thrives and grows along with the business, and the only way to do that is to partner with local agencies to ensure that you're improving the environment. You're improving the sustainability of the community in which you operate."
Becky Humphries, the director of the DNRE says, "It helps Midland be better prepared in terms of preparing for the future. It brings the community together. It makes is a less wasteful community."
The state gave a wooden plaque to Dow Corning made from the state's tree, white pine.
Its partner, the Arnold Center, has four trucks rolling nearly every day helping Dow Corning, Dow Chemical, Nexteer Automotive, and Midland Public Schools with their recycling needs.
The state will give out seven or eight of these awards. It says, they're rare, and recipients should be honored.
