Frito-Lay's Wooster, Ohio, facility has become the city's first member of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) National Environmental Performance Track Program by demonstrating excellence in environmental management and committing to above-standard goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance. Today, the EPA has recognized Frito-Lay Wooster for this achievement at a flag raising ceremony. Frito-Lay's Wooster facility becomes one of only 14 Ohio companies to receive Performance Track. Frito-Lay's Rancho Cucamonga, California, Orlando, Florida, and recently, Pulaski, Tennessee, sites also were accepted into the program this year.

The EPA National Environmental Performance Track Program recognizes facilities that have a strong record of environmental compliance, set three-year goals for continuous improvements in environmental performance beyond regulatory requirements, have internal systems in place to manage environmental impact, engage in community outreach and consistently report results.

"For years, Frito-Lay Wooster has had a resource conservation program in place that has helped the facility achieve significant reductions in water, energy and waste," says Leslie Starr Keating, senior vice president, operations, Frito-Lay North America.

The Frito-Lay Wooster plant has set several goals for environmental improvement over the next few years, including reducing energy usage, water usage, and waste through updated technology and equipment, and improved recycling programs.

Individual facilities apply for membership in the EPA's Performance Track program, and companies may have multiple facilities in the program. The Jonesboro, Arkansas, site was the first Frito-Lay plant to join the program last year. Since the program's inception in 2000, its more than 530 members have collectively reported greenhouse gas reductions of 310,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, reductions in nitrogen oxides of 13,000 tons and reductions of hazardous waste of 52,000 tons.