The Portland Cement Association (PCA) has awarded the Holcim Holly Hill cement plant in South Carolina with its 2020 Land Stewardship award. The annual award recognises an industry participant that “goes above and beyond” what is required to provide environmental solutions at a facility. The award is the result of Holly Hill’s multi-year, multi-million-dollar effort to re-divert a local stream, Home Branch creek, back to its original path. The effort will protect the future of nearby wetlands and ensure that natural floodplains are maintained.
“It’s important that facilities like ours prioritise sustainable activities in the communities we serve,” said Michael LeMonds, Vice President, Environment, Land and Government Affairs at LafargeHolcim. “We regularly meet with local leaders through our community advisory committee, and this project was a great partnership supported by all involved.”
In addition to the wetland benefits, the plant will also benefit from reduced groundwater infiltration into its quarry, improving environmental performance at the site.
“We are actively exploring ways to reduce our environmental footprint throughout the company’s US fleet of cement plants,” said Mr. LeMonds. “It is one of the core pillars of our approach to sustainability. Better land management helps us create shared value for our community partners.”
In addition to this latest project, the plant annually recycles more than 400 kilotons of material as alternative fuel reducing waste.