 |
Lime Lakes 3, 4, 5 and 6
(circa 1960) |
To look at the gently rolling hills and meadows, it’s hard to imagine that 20 years ago the 300-acre parcel at PPG’s Barberton, Ohio, USA, chemicals plant was virtually lifeless. No grass, flowers or trees grew there. Even the weeds struggled to survive. That’s because the waste from more than 70 years of soda ash production – totaling more than 30 million metric tons, mostly in the form of limewater slurry – was pumped into six ponds, referred to as Lime Lakes. The result: 600 acres incapable of supporting vegetation. In 1899, when the Barberton plant was built, the impact of industrial wastes, including those from making soda ash for the production of glass, was unrecognized. But in the 1980s, PPG discovered a way to reclaim the lakes. By mixing selected municipal sludge with the lime, PPG has been able to return land to nature. MORE>
PPG began using this award-winning technology to transform the barren lakes into a haven for native plants and wildlife in 1985. PPG has reclaimed almost 300 of 600 acres to date.
Reclamation continues on the remaining Lime Lakes, adding to the greenspace suitable for hiking, biking, picnics and wildlife observation that PPG has brought to the Barberton community. PPG expects to complete this project in 2015.
A three-quarter mile link in the Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath Trail that runs through PPG's Barberton, Ohio property was dedicated in September 2006. “Although Metro Parks leases almost all the land that the towpath occupies in Summit County, the four-mile PPG portion is the only section on private, non-public property,” said David C. Whited, chief of planning & development for Metro Parks. “It’s an outstanding example of a community-minded corporation stepping up to the plate and recognizing an opportunity to give something back to its community.” MORE>
Periodically, PPG distributes a Community Relations Fact Sheet with information regarding corrective action activities in Barberton. To view the most recent Community Relations Fact Sheet, click here.
Awards and Honors:
- In November 2006, PPG's Barberton Plant received international recognition for their contributions to wildlife habitat conservation at the Wildlife Habitat Council’s (WHC) 18th Annual Symposium, Connecting People & Nature. MORE>
- National Certification by the Wildlife Habitat Council
- Izaak Walton League of America Honor Roll Award
- Conservationist of the year Award, Summit Soil and Water Conservation District, Summit County, Ohio, USA
- Keep Ohio Beautiful Award, in the Business Industry category
- US Environmental Protection Agency Beneficial Use of Sludge Award
 |
 |
|
Reclamation construction activities |
Reclaimed Lime Lake 4 |
To return back to the Land Management and Conservation site, click here.