Being “green” is one thing. Making a difference is another.

At Mohawk Home’s Wall Street facility in Calhoun, employees make a difference in the community every day by diverting 100 percent of the facility’s waste from landfills.

Each day, employees walk through the facility sporting t-shirts with the slogan “We’re good for nothing…going to the landfill!” Employees exemplify this slogan through their ongoing work to ensure that their operation remains sustainable.

Wall Street’s trashcans are virtually empty, as everything that can be recycled or reused is identified, sorted and organized into its proper place. Many employees bring their lunches in Company-provided containers, so that leftovers can be covered and taken home. Recycling bins for bottles and cans are placed throughout the facility, and many employees bring their own reusable beverage containers.

“The employees here have really embraced this program and are very excited about their accomplishments,” said Larman Self, facility manager at Wall Street. “There is a great deal of energy around this initiative, and we are proud to celebrate the significant contributions that our people are making to reduce waste in our community.”

Wall Street is the first Mohawk facility to achieve zero waste status. The facility’s leadership team, in conjunction with Mohawk’s corporate waste stream management department, examined samples of the facility’s waste stream that was directed to local landfills. They identified further opportunities to recycle some items and found organizations that eagerly acquired other waste products. These practices not only positively impact the community, but also other Mohawk facilities, which benefit from Wall Street’s recycled cardboard tubes sent to them for re-use.

“Achieving zero landfill status has been a goal of our Wall Street team throughout 2012,” noted Jeff Briggs, vice president of manufacturing. “Efforts around proper separation and collection of waste stream products have been outstanding, and I commend everyone at Wall Street for their commitment to eliminating waste from the site. They’re commitment to excellence makes it possible.”

Mohawk’s sustainability efforts continue to impact communities where the company operates facilities. The team at Wall Street has partnered with local Gordon County middle schools in an effort to create a recycle stream for empty chip bags. The Company’s goal is simple: make the world a cleaner—and better—place.

To learn more about Mohawk’s sustainability practices, visit www.mohawksustainability.com.