Matthew W. Gassen & Company

Sustainability Refined.

Ouch: Target Reportedly Sued for Alleged Violations

According to Greenbiz.com:

“Attorney General Edmund G. Brown, 20 district attorneys and the Los Angeles City Attorney claim Target has improperly disposed of the hazardous waste for the last eight years and seek to block further toxic dumping. The retailer has received more than 300 notices since 2001 for violating the state’s hazardous waste control laws.”

See: here

Chevrolet Volt

Chevrolet Volt : The Leftlanenews.com Test Drive

“The Volt is as significant to GM as a company as it is to the industry as a whole. The company’s product renaissance over the last two years has been impressive.”

See the video:
here

Frito-Lay = Green Leader

Frito-Lay today announced plans to expand its Topeka facility and will install and/or upgrade to new “green” technology.

The reported
announcement stated that the company will:
“Install a biomass boiler at the facility that will create steam to heat the oil to manufacture the chips. It is a pilot project to reduce natural gas consumption at the facility by 85 percent. A majority of the wood waste to fuel the boiler will come from the City of Topeka’s yard materials recycling center...”
and will construct
“a 30,000 square foot energy-efficient warehouse building adjacent to the present Frito-Lay plant at 4236 SW Kirklawn. The expansion will meet the requirements of LEED Silver certification by incorporating the use of recycled materials, energy efficient lights, natural lighting, high efficiency motors and construction waste management and other technologies.”

This is certainly a very exciting development for Topeka! Frito-Lay has been a sustainability leader for many years. See: here (will open a PDF)

The investment in the community is much needed and welcome.

Press Release: Gassen Elected to Transform Topeka Board of Directors

More details to follow...

See:
here

Press Release: Gassen Appointed to City Advisory Board

Matthew W. Gassen is pleased to announce his appointment and election as the Chair of the Topeka Sustainability Advisory Board.

See:
here

“The mission of the board is to promote environmental assessment and advocate for policies which support sustainability specifically including but not limited to environmental assessment, waste reduction, recycling, energy conservation and natural resource conservation in the city of Topeka and to enhance the quality of life by improving the city's efforts in those areas.”

Mr. Gassen looks forward to the opportunities and challenges ahead.