February 27, 2007

Department of Environmental Quality Director Steven E. Chester announced today that a pollution prevention project proposed by R & R Ready Mix, Inc., of Saginaw has received a $400,000 low interest loan through the DEQ's Small Business Pollution Prevention Loan Program to conduct improvements at their ready mix concrete facilities in Hemlock and Clio.

The company will use the funds to construct a closed-loop wash water recycling system to contain concrete mix materials while washing their mix-trucks at each of these locations as well as a dust collection and recovery system for the cement truck loading area at its Clio facility.

The company estimates that these improvements will reduce water consumption by 625,000 gallons per year, eliminate 625,000 gallons per year of liquid industrial waste, reduce truck cleaning chemicals by 50 percent; and reduce air emissions by 26,562 pounds per year.

"This partnership effort reflects our commitment to providing for a healthy environment and a health economy throughout Michigan," said DEQ Director Steven E. Chester. "This project will be a great benefit to the Saginaw community."

The DEQ and the company's local lending institution, National City Bank, each contributed half of the loan proceeds.

"We're excited at the opportunity to participate in this loan program," said Russell Willett, president of R & R Ready Mix, Inc. "We needed to move forward with this project and with the help of this program will save over $43,000 in interest costs. That's money that can be reinvested in our business."

Businesses with fewer than 500 employees can apply for loans of up to $400,000 with a guaranteed interest rate of not more than five percent. The short application helps businesses describe how their projects will eliminate or reduce waste through source reduction, environmentally sound reuse, and/or recycling; including water and energy conservation projects.

Loans are available to all private business sectors including farming, manufacturing, retail, and service. For more information, contact the DEQ's Environmental Assistance Center at 800-662-9278, or by e-mail at deq-ead-env-assist@michigan.gov.

Editor's note: DEQ news releases are available on the department's Internet home page at www.michigan.gov/deq.

"Protecting Michigan's Environment, Ensuring Michigan's Future"

Revised February 27, 2007 by Pat Watson