As part of Vortex’s unwavering commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the company continues its previously established recycling initiatives, while also having several new implementations and other future initiatives in development.

Continued initiatives include metal imprints recycling to Glickman Metal Recycling in Wichita, Kansas, USA; a vacuum system to capture metal dusts for a cleaner work environment; aerosol can recycling; a centrifugal filter to separate solids from liquids in the tumbler, so that water can be reused during production; separating, confining and managing oil and water used during production, to prevent environmental contamination; partnering with UniFirst Corporation to launder rags used for machine maintenance and metal polishing, so that they can be reused; using a BECCA Solvent Distillation Recycling System to remove solid wastes from acetone used in the Paint Booth, so that acetone can be reused; partnering with Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. for light-bulb recycling and more energy-efficient lighting throughout the building; paper recycling; cardboard recycling through Salina Waste Systems; and partnering with the City of Salina's e-Waste Program to participate in used electronics recycling. Vortex also participates in Cope Plastics' Solutions-Based Customer Recycling Award Program (S.C.R.A.P.) to recycle surplus plastics used in production. Vortex Received the Green Level Milestone Award for diverting more than 50,000 lb | 22,680 kg of industrial plastics from landfills in 2015, and has kept similar pace in 2016.

Just this year, Vortex installed light-emitting diode (LED) lighting in its parking lot and in the building’s exterior light fixtures. The parking lights yield 100,000 hours of useful life, while the can lights yield 50,000 hours of useful life. For the future, Vortex is considering alternative indoor lighting strategies that may further improve energy savings and lessen their environmental footprint.

While there is no legal commitment to recycling non-hazardous waste, Vortex employees are environmentally conscious and feel a social responsibility to the betterment of their community – which has led to such active recycling participation.

"It is great to work for a company that actively seeks ways to reduce environmental impact," said Mark Sander, standards manager at Vortex. "At the end of the day, it is the right thing to do." 

Through these efforts, Vortex proudly supports its community by conserving resources and protecting the environment in any way possible. Staying true to its core values of respect, integrity, passion and humility, Vortex is cultivating a healthier world for future generations.