In addition, all underground storage tanks have been removed to prevent groundwater or soil contamination. For a company its size, Garden Way generates a relatively small amount of hazardous waste. However, the company strives to reduce that amount even further. In 1993, Garden Way reduced treated waste sludge from the chrome reduction system to 40 percent over the previous year, and reduced waste paint related material by 50 percent over that same time period. Evaluations are currently underway for further reductions by replacing the company's chrome-seal and paint stripping operations with environmentally friendly substitutes.
All waste oil is recycled and metals such as aluminum, brass and copper are separated and recycled.
In addition, as many wood pallets as possible are returned to the supplier for reuse. Not only does Garden Way try to take it easy on the environment, but it also tries to make its environment easy on the eye by properly landscaping its property. Hundreds of shrubs and ash and maple trees have been planted at its facilities in the last year.