# DLA Distribution celebrates Earth Day 2016

/ Published April 22, 2016
NEW CUMBERLAND, Pennsylvania, 
Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which events are held worldwide to demonstrate support for environmental protection and sustainability. Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network, and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year. 

This year on Earth Day, the landmark Paris Agreement is scheduled to be signed by the United States, China, and some 120 other countries. The signing satisfies a key requirement for the entry into force of a historic draft climate protection treaty adopted by consensus of the 195 nations present at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris.

Over the years, DLA Distribution has had a positive effect on our environment and reducing pollutants. Currently, we maintain a fleet of over 3,800 pieces of Material Handling Equipment (MHE) to include Diesel vehicles and LPG and gasoline vehicles. The remainder of our fleet was converted to electric, reducing millions of tons of hazardous air pollutants from being released into the environment worldwide. 

Additionally, DLA Distribution has over 7,000 employees maintaining over 43.1M sq ft of warehouse space, over 13.6M sq ft of support facilities and 3.2M yards of open storage lots.  By instituting and taking a more active role in the items mentioned on the attached flyer, the impact would be even greater and would reduce millions of pounds of recyclable materials from being placed in landfills and could save millions of gallons of water.  These practices could also be implemented at home which would reduce both your ecological footprint and the impact on your local environment. 

Below, please find some good information regarding recycling and water conservation. 

**Recycling:**The process of collecting and processing materials that would otherwise be thrown away as trash and turning them into new products. 

**Benefits of Recycling:**

Reduces waste; Conserves natural resources; Prevents pollution; Saves energy; Reduces greenhouse gas emissions; etc.Recycled materials are used as feed stock to manufacture other products; for example plastic bottles are turned into park benches, aluminum cans into counter-tops, and used paper into new paper with recycled content. 

**Batteries: Did you Know?**

Most installations manage waste/used batteries as a Universal Waste. Universal waste is a hazardous waste with less stringent management rules. Examples of batteries that can be managed as universal waste may include:Lithium (all types), Lead-acid (all types), Nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cad), Nickel-metal hydride (NiMH)Wet and dry cell as well as rechargeable batteries can be re-cycled as universal waste.Taping the terminals of batteries prevents electrical transfer and shorting out of batteries, creating heat that could cause fires.Remove all batteries from items sent to Disposition Services prior to turn-in.Leaking batteries are managed as hazardous waste. 

**Water Conservation:****How you can help?**

In the United States, we are incredibly lucky to have easy access to some of the safest treated water in the world, we just turn on the tap. Throughout the average day, we use water during many routine personal and business related processes, but did you know that only 1% of all water on Earth is available for use by people? That is a small amount but it needs to go a long way. So how do we use it efficiently? We can take small steps such as taking shorter showers, check for plumbing leaks, and washing only full loads in the dishwasher or washing machine. As our population grows, more and more people are using up this limited resource, so it is important not to waste it. Next time you are brushing your teeth or hosing off the deck, think about how much water you are using and how much you can save if you change habits. With only having 1%, how can you contribute to conserving this precious resource? To find out more about water conservation visit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency at https://www3.epa.gov/watersense/our_water/water_use_today.html