Keystone Foods and Perdue Farms Win Clean Water Awards

Keystone Foods LLC, Gadsden, AL and Perdue Farms Inc, Perry, GA are winners of U.S. Poultry & Egg Association’s 2011 Clean Water Awards.  American Proteins, Cuthbert, GA, received honorable mention.  Presented annually, the awards recognize excellence in the operation of wastewater treatment plants in the poultry industry.  The presentations were made during the Association’s Environmental Management Seminar in Nashville, with the winners being selected by a committee made up of university personnel, industry engineers and managers, and state regulatory officials.

Awards are presented in two categories, full treatment and pretreatment. The full treatment category covers facilities that fully reclaim wastewater prior to discharge into a receiving stream or final land application system.  The pretreatment category includes facilities that discharge pretreated effluent to publicly owned, full treatment facilities. 

Keystone Foods was selected as winner in the pretreatment category. The Gadsden facility was recognized for its pretreatment of wastewater with integrated aerobic and anoxic zones and secondary DAF for clarification. The facility was designed with the latest safety and energy savings technologies applied to its design. Through its wastewater pre-treatment plant, the company is helping ensure the protection of the environment now and in the future.

Perdue Farms was selected as the winner for full treatment for their slaughter and further processing operations, after being runner-ups last year.  Perdue Farms received the award for full treatment of wastewater, based on community service and electromagnetic treatment of DAF flow that reduces chemicals. The water treatment process uses a three-polymer system in a dissolved air flotation unit and a PLC system to control polymer dosing.  The system enhances effluent quality and streamlines management control. The facility is located on 700 rural acres, with approximately 350 acres set aside for wildlife habitat conservation.   

American Proteins received honorable mention in the full treatment category. American Proteins operates on an Environmental Management System with a formal set of procedures and policies. A cover over their anaerobic lagoon reduces odor emissions and provides for the recovery and reuse of biogas for use in boilers.  Through an aggressive water conservation program, 30 million gallons of water are recycled every day.  Situated on 600 acres, the facility uses 100 acres, leaving 500 acres for wildlife habitat. 

“The poultry industry is acknowledged as a leader in defending our natural resources,” said USPOULTRY chairman Gary Cooper, Cooper Farms, Oakwood, OH.  “U.S. Poultry & Egg Association continues to give emphasis to environmental stewardship by identifying excellence in environmental programs at our member companies.  We also offer technical assistance and training in environmental management.  Congratulations to these three companies for their excellent work.”