UCOR is committed to incorporating sustainable practices and pollution prevention into its cleanup mission activities. Some of our programs and objectives are described in the following text. Explore our links and learn more.

UCOR conserves and protects environmental resources by incorporating environmental protection and the elements of an enabling Environmental Management System (EMS) into the daily conduct of business, fostering a spirit of cooperation with federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.

As part of the mission to reduce or eliminate negative impacts to the environment, UCOR EMS, UCOR ES&H, and Environmental Compliance programs continuously strives to improve environmental performance through:

• Integration of responsible environmental practices into project operations.
• Maintaining compliance with all environmental laws, regulations, permits, and applicable or relevant and appropriate requirements.
• Responsible environmental stewardship of natural and cultural resources.
• Minimizing the effects of our operations on the environment through source reduction, recycling and reuse, pollution prevention, resource conservation, and purchasing environmentally preferable products and services.

Recycling and Waste Minimization at UCOR

Recycling at UCOR takes many forms from scrap metal, electronics, aerosol cans, and concrete from our cleanup activities to aluminum beverage cans, toner cartridges, mixed paper, and plastic bottles from our routine office work. Waste Minimization is about reducing waste at the source, making choices to purchase less hazardous items, and substituting them with biodegradable or environmentally-friendly alternatives.

Recycling and Waste Minimization at Home

To obtain the current locations of recycling centers in East Tennessee, please use the following link:

http://www.keeptnbeautiful.org/recycling/find-a-location/#!search=

To locate disposal sites for variations of waste, please use the following link:

City of Knoxville Specialty Recycling and Donations Guide

P2/WMin is a part of the foundation of UCOR and an influence when the organization conducts business. Though it is required by DOE and Executive Order, it is also the right thing to do. UCOR aims to educate and encourage sustainable practices at the workplace and at home by recognizing the projects incorporating sustainability in their projects. The Sustainability Leadership Awards is an internal awards program initiated in 2007 to recognize P2/WMin achievement among all the projects, programs and functions. A number of entries are typically received in a wide variety of categories including Energy Management, Clean & Renewable Energy, Natural Resource Management, Water Management, Waste Management, Electronic Stewardship, Resilience, Acquisition & Procurement, and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Environmental Justice.  Sustainable practices are incorporated into our daily operations as we improve our Environmentally Preferable Purchasing (Green Purchasing) and prioritize waste diversion.  Take a moment to view the 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 , 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 awards and find out about the many creative ways UCOR projects have incorporated P2/WMin principles into their activities and purchases.

Sustainable Development – Information on renewable/recycled building materials, purchasing options to improve sustainability, and other ideas to reduce the environmental impacts of many of your activities can be found here.

Energy Conservation – Interested in learning about the most cost-effective changes you can make in your home, effects of your energy usage, or how landscaping can save on your energy bills? Check out these helpful links:

• https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver 
• https://www.epa.gov/energy/greenhouse-gas-equivalencies-calculator#results
• https://www.energy.gov/articles/top-11-things-you-didnt-know-about-saving-energy-home-summer-edition