Stericycle is proud to be partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation for a third consecutive year to plant approximately 45,000 additional trees across the United States and Canada. As part of Stericycle’s commitment and celebration of its 35-year anniversary, 307 trees are also being offered to communities in need through the Arbor Day Foundation’s Canopy Project in honor of 307 employees with over 25 years of service with the company. This program is designed to give individuals the opportunity to plant trees in their own neighborhoods to take an active role in the growth of tree canopies in their local communities.
“For 35 years, Stericycle has been dedicated to supporting the communities it serves by creating a more sustainable future,” commented Cindy J. Miller, President and Chief Executive Officer at Stericycle. “Trees play a critical role in creating healthier, safer, and more vibrant environments. Our collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation allows us to further action on that commitment by adhering to our promise to protect what matters.”
In 2024, Stericycle will support planting efforts across multiple locations in North America. In Michigan, efforts will help restore forestlands on a large scale by replanting stands of native jack pines and red pines in state and national forests. Efforts in Kentucky and West Virginia will focus on helping the land heal after years of coal mining. A mix of tree planting efforts will improve water quality, provide an enriched habitat for specific bat species, and return land to its natural state. In Indiana, efforts will go toward repairing wetlands around the Patoka River. This includes 20 acres of agricultural lands with a plan to return the river back to native riparian forest cover. In Delaware County near Warren, Ohio, a newly established forest will serve as a source of adventure and refuge for residents. Stericycle is also supporting planting efforts around the Goethe State Forest near Apopka, Florida, by planting conifers to aid in erosion prevention by reinforcing the soil and to provide a habitat for a variety of wildlife species. Lastly, in Canada, Stericycle will support planting efforts to add native jack pine and black spruce trees back to the landscape in the boreal forest located in Manitoba surrounding Devil’s Lake.
“For the past three years, Stericycle has affirmed an active role in helping support a variety of strategic reforestation projects,” said Katie Loos, President of the Arbor Day Foundation. “Not only is it critical to plant the right trees at the right time, but it’s also imperative for us to plant them in the ecosystems that need them most. This is why we are so appreciative to partner with an organization who is dedicated to improving and restoring the diverse forests that so many depend on.”
During the three-year partnership, Stericycle has committed to planting over 165,000 trees, actively sequestering CO2, preserving water sources, and cleansing the air of pollutants. Estimates from the Arbor Day Foundation show that Stericycle’s restoration efforts in 2023 specifically, will result in the following positive impacts to the environment over the next 40 years:
- Sequestering 18,451 metric tons of CO2 (equivalent to 4,011 fewer cars on the road for one year)*
- Avoiding 1,594,541 gallons of water runoff (equivalent to enough water for 19,445 people for one day)*
- Removing 81 tons of air pollutants (equivalent to enough oxygen for 180,000 people for one day)*
*Estimates calculated using iTree, peer-reviewed software suite from the USDA Forest Service that provides urban and rural forestry analysis and benefits assessment tools.
Learn more about Stericycle's environmental efforts.
