Stephen Grose is the director of facilities and production at Emerald’s recycling and waste management plant in Tacoma, Washington. Emerald expertly recycles hazardous waste materials including solvents and automotive lube oil. Recycling hazardous waste is an exact science and Grose oversees the process. “We take the worst of the worst and sell it back as a high quality, vital product,” he says. At least 70 percent of solvents that arrive at Emerald in Tacoma get a second life, mostly within Washington State.
Many Emerald customers choose Emerald because they are motivated by a strong desire to operate more sustainably. Emerald’s recycling processes and commitment to reuse provide an opportunity for Emerald customers to ensure their overall waste stream is greatly reduced and materials that would otherwise be waste are recycled into new products.
“Many of the companies we work with want to become better stewards of the environment,” Grose says.
In the last decade he’s seen a marked change in the way companies think about hazardous waste. “There’s been a tipping point and environmental safety has become a fundamental driver and a priority at the senior level.” Grose believes the growing corporate interest in environment stewardship is not just about marketing or being able to tell a good story. He says being a responsible corporate citizen in Washington is necessary for retaining and recruiting quality people.
Grose has become more environmentally conscious himself over the last ten years. He always loved the outdoors, but wasn’t leading the charge on environmental protection. Then, in 2005 he worked to develop and implement an award-winning environmental master plan for a Washington medical center. Since then, he’s been instrumental in doing more to protect the environment from hazardous waste.
“I love to show Emerald staff what a positive impact they’re having beyond their jobs—how they help to grow the local economy and contribute to a healthier local environment. A lot of guys at the plant are really proud to be recyclers,” he says.
Despite working with some of the toughest regulations in the country, Grose believes there’s no better place than Washington State to implement positive environmental policies. “It has always been a part of our history,” he says. Being part of the Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy coalition confirms that he, and Emerald, are not alone. There are hundreds of businesses and organizations working together to support the implementation of solid environmental plans in Washington State. “That’s important,” he says, “Because we can’t do it independent of other industries, our competition and especially our community.”