Metro News Release
For immediate release: April 20, 2007
Metro riders urged to recycle newspapers as Metro celebrates Earth Day
Metro is an environmentally friendly way to travel
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the District of Columbia Department of the Environment to observe Earth Day in the National Capital Region. Metro continually asks its riders to recycle the newspapers they read while riding Metro, promotes recycling efforts in its rail yards, bus garages and office buildings, and provides an environmentally friendly way to travel throughout the region.
“At Metro, every day is Earth Day,” said Metro General Manager John Catoe. “With nearly 1.1 million people each weekday choosing to take Metrorail or Metrobus instead of driving, Metro riders keep more than 325,000 vehicles off the region’s already congested roadways each day, saving thousands of gallons of gasoline and reducing vehicle emissions.”
While Earth Day, April 22, falls on a Sunday this year, Metro got an early start, at seven stations throughout the region this morning. From 7 to 9 a.m. volunteers from the EPA greeted commuters and encouraged them to recycle their unwanted newspapers at the Federal Triangle, Union Station, Capitol South, Rosslyn, Crystal City, Silver Spring and New Carrollton Metrorail stations. The volunteers reminded Metro riders to place their unwanted newspapers into the specially marked recycling bins near station entrances rather than dumping them in the trash.
The newspaper recycling bins at select stations were decorated with the artwork from youth organizations throughout the region including Rock Creek Academy (DC), Shabach Christian Academy (MD), Montgomery County Public Schools (MD), Cora Kelly Recreational Center (VA), Barcroft Elementary School (VA) and Crystal City Children’s Center (VA). Recycling representatives from the District Department of Public Works, Montgomery County, Prince George’s County, and Arlington County joined the EPA at the Federal Triangle, Silver Spring, New Carrollton and Rosslyn Metrorail stations, to promote the recycling effort.
“Last year, Metro recycled 2,400 tons of newspapers. That’s 200 tons or 400,000 pounds of newspapers every month,” said Joan LeLacheur, Metro’s acting director for environmental management. “Metro also recycles items found in its rail yards and bus garages including scrap metal, used oil, paints, greases and solvents, rail ties, light bulbs and batteries.”
In addition to Metro’s robust recycling efforts, Metro began purchasing alternative fuel vehicles in 2001. The current Metrobus fleet includes 439 compressed natural gas and 50 diesel electric hybrid buses that reduces Metro’s gasoline consumption by 4.5 million gallons annually. Last year, Metro obtained a federal grant to develop hydrogen fuel cell buses and was awarded clean renewable energy bonds to bring solar energy to Metro facilities.
“Metro is committed to environmental stewardship and supports federal and local initiatives to contribute to a cleaner planet, including reducing gasoline consumption, using alternative energy sources, incorporating green building principles and of course, recycling,” said Catoe.
How Metro Stays Green
Metrobus Fleet Composition:
• 439 compressed natural gas buses
• 50 diesel electric hybrid buses
• 1,014 diesel buses that use ultra-low sulfur fuel
Metro System Annual Recycling:
• 2,400 tons of newspaper
• 24,675 tons of scrap metal
• 256,020 tons of used oil
• 27.5 tons of electronic equipment
• 1,580 toner cartridges
• 8,900 used wooden rail ties
• 4,820 gallons of miscellaneous chemicals, paints, lubricants, greases and solvents
• 350 cases of fluorescent light bulbs and 60 drums of crushed bulbs
• 56 tons of commercial batteries and 7 drums of household batteries
Metro’s Pollution Prevention:
• Metro removes more than 325,000 vehicles a day from the roads.
• Metro carries 40% of all rush hour trips into downtown.
• Metro prevents 10,000 tons of pollution from getting into the air each year.
• Metro saves the region from using 75 million gallons of gasoline each year.
• Metrobus’ compressed natural gas and diesel electric hybrid vehicles save 4.5 million gallons of gasoline annually.
• Metro reduced diesel fuel consumption by 21% from July 2006 to February 2007.
• The police substation under construction near the Fort Totten Metrorail station will be Metro’s first registered green building.
News release issued at 12:00 am, April 20, 2007.