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The U.S. Poultry & Egg Association (“Association”) announced in a September 21st news release that Tyson Foods River Valley Animal Foods (“Tyson”) in Scranton, Arkansas was a recipient of the 2017 Clean Water Award.

The Tyson Scranton facility was presented the award for the full treatment category while Keystone Foods of Gadsden, Alabama received the award for the pretreatment category.

The Association states that the award is presented annually:

. . . to poultry facilities that are excelling in their efforts at wastewater treatment and water reuse.

The winners are stated to be chosen by a committee of industry engineers, industry managers, university personnel and industry media. The awards were presented at the Association’s Environmental Management seminar in Destin, Florida.

The Tyson Scranton facility is described as producing 2,000 tons of animal feeds from rendered poultry protein and fat per day. It is stated to treat approximately 750,000 gallons of wastewater daily, of which 220,000 of treated wastewater is reused on site for various purposes which include cleaning trailers and tankers after raw product has been removed. The news release describes this process as equating to:

. . . more than 80 million gallons of treated wastewater that is reused on a yearly basis. In 2009, the facility’s existing oxidation ditch system was modified and upgraded to a four-stage Bardenpho type process to meet the effluent limitations guidelines set by EPA. Team members in the rendering facility receive overview training of the wastewater plant, reminding them of the importance of fat reclamation. The annual training has resulted in a reduction in dissolved air flotation (DAF) emulsified fats and proteins.

The news release (which can be found here) includes a captioned picture with the following Tyson personnel:

• Paul Turner, Wastewater Operator
• Karalea Wells, Environmental Manager
• Dana Pierce, Senior Area Environmental Manager