Turnkey Recycling and Environmental Enterprise (TREE) in Rochester was one of 18 facilities to receive re-certification as a ‘Wildlife at Work' site from the Wildlife Habitat Council. These certifications, announced at the council's annual meeting, recognize outstanding habitat management and environmental education programs developed through partnerships with local organizations.
"Our certified program provides the opportunity to work with our neighbors and local environmental groups on a project that is important to our community - enhancing the natural environment," said John Nadeau, district manager for Waste Management New Hampshire, located in Hampton. "These programs welcome children and adults to visit our site for a unique hands-on experience, which they can't get in a classroom."
The TREE facility is an environmental park encompassing roughly 1,245 acres, of which 150 are actively managed for wildlife. The land abuts both the Isinglass and Cocheco rivers.
As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the Waste Management wildlife team provides habitat for a variety of birds. Bluebird nest boxes were erected on the site in 1996, and these structures continue to provide cover for nesting birds. Management of grassland habitat and snags provides additional habitat for nesting.
TREE's sustainable forest management includes ongoing monitoring of wildlife, including quality and quantity of trees, as well as animals. Interpretive trails through the forest and riparian habitats on site provide an opportunity for visitors to learn about both flora and fauna. The Gonic Trails were improved by an Eagle Scout, who repaired and added several erosion control bars, raised the level of a bridge, and installed a bat house.
The TREE site is part of the Isinglass River watershed, which drains approximately 75 square miles. Waste Management helped incorporate the Isinglass River and the Cocheco River into the New Hampshire Rivers Management and Protection Program. The company also contributed to the health of the watershed by donating water quality monitoring supplies to conservation organizations. In 2008, TREE hosted a Get Wild about Water and Wildlife Day, during which visitors gained a better understanding of and appreciation for the importance of aquatic ecosystems.
TREE is one of 45 WM locations receiving an award this year bringing the company's total number of sites with Wildlife at Work certifications to 73.
Waste Management's sustainability goal is to win WHC certification for 100 sites and 25,000 acres by 2020. To date, the company has set aside a total of 24,000 acres for wildlife habitat and has earned more WHC certified sites than any other participating company.
