Cutting Edge Environmental Initiatives at Arkansas Hazardous Waste Facility Launched
Julie Angulo, COO, Environmental Solutions and Services, Veolia North America “flipping the switch” on the 5-megawatt solar panel installation. Image courtesy of VEOLIA.
- October 9 Event Showcased Sustainability Initiatives Including “Flipping the Switch” on Solar Panel Field and Planting the First Tree in New Forest Management Program
- Veolia’s New Gum Springs Facility is Setting the Industry Standard for Decarbonization and Protecting Natural Resources
Demonstrating a deeply held commitment to environmental sustainability, Veolia North America today hosted a celebration at its hazardous waste treatment center in Gum Springs, Arkansas, highlighting a series of unprecedented initiatives to make the plant the most sustainable operation of its kind in the U.S. This project represents a $600 million investment, doubling the local workforce to over 200 employees.
- A 5-megawatt solar panel installation, recently completed to provide a clean source of electricity at the plant. A ceremonial “Flip the Switch” activation will include leaders from VNA and Today’s Power Inc., which led construction of the installation.
- A forest management program, covering over 1,000 acres surrounding the facility, which includes over 600 acres of active reforestation and the planting of 100,000 trees in 2025. The ceremony will include the planting of the first tree sapling.
- A first-of-its-kind innovation for capturing heat to generate electricity. This feature will make use of a 7-megawatt steam turbine to generate power.
- Advanced technologies for monitoring wildlife and biodiversity near the facility. In partnership with the National Museum of Natural History (MNHN) in Paris, France, a cutting-edge LEKO (Light Emission and Kinetic Observation) biodiversity monitoring tool is installed on the property, using sensors to listen, identify, and count species in the surrounding habitat.
“Together, these initiatives demonstrate Veolia’s vision for creating a brighter future for the hundreds of communities in the U.S. and Canada where we provide essential environmental services in waste, water and energy,” said VNA President and CEO Fred Van Heems. “Veolia’s global GreenUp strategy for growth hinges on our commitment to providing innovative solutions for environmental challenges, and we are backing that commitment up through the work and vision we are carrying out at Gum Springs.”
