Postal Service Wins White House Environmental Awards

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Postal Service has won two prestigious environmental awards - one for a revenue-generating recycling program and another for an E-85 alternative fuel project. The White House Closing the Circle awards recognize federal agencies for outstanding achievements that result in significant contributions to the environment. These two awards represent the thirty-sixth and thirty-seventh Closing the Circle awards the Postal Service has won since 1995.

In 2006, the total solid waste management program recycled 8.6 million pounds of undeliverable mail, plastic film and cardboard. This program also generated more than $203,000 in revenue. And, the E-85 alternative-fuel usage project put 584 ethanol-capable vehicles on the road in Minnesota, resulting in a 65 percent increase in ethanol fuel use from 2003 to 2006.

“The outstanding results we’ve had with these initiatives not only demonstrate the positive impact that organizations can make on the environment, but also how being an environmental leader is good for the bottom line,” said Michael Fanning, manager, Environmental Policy and Programs. “These programs are just two of the many things we do every day to meet these objectives.”

The awards were bestowed today by the Office of the Federal Environmental Executive at a ceremony at the White House.

The total waste management program relies on the vast Postal Service transportation network to recover recyclables from USPS trash. Removing recyclables from trash reduces landfill volume as well as trash disposal costs. The Postal Service then sells the recyclables.

The Postal Service works with the state of Minnesota and the Minnesota Lung Association to promote the proliferation of E-85 fueling sites. The USPS deploys delivery vehicles to Post Offices near these sites and uses a vehicle tracking system to monitor and maximize E-85 use when economical.




An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products, and services to cover its operating expenses. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $73 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail.