AB&I Joins Illegal Dumping Pilot Program in Oakland
July 29, 2019
OAKLAND, CA July 29, 2019: AB&I Foundry, part of the Oakland Industrial Alliance (OIA), has teamed up with County Supervisor Nate Miley on his pilot program to address illegal dumping that is plaguing the East Oakland community. This multi-faceted approach, which is based on emerging best practices, aims to clean up existing waste and prevent future illegal dumping practices.
Through the pilot program, local businesses, non-profits, and community groups are partnering to contribute to the movement. AB&I Foundry and Argent Materials are both allocating staff hours and equipment to clean up the area. The Beautification Council and Men of Valor are providing on-the-ground-support. Supervisor Miley is working with a team of his staff and local high school interns to educate the neighborhood on strategies to combat illegal dumping.
“This illegal dumping remediation program is important to the local community. By working as a team with local businesses, residents, and community leadership, we are collectively finding ways to combat the disheartening behavior of illegal dumping while improving the community where people live and work,” said Michael Lowe, general manager of AB&I Foundry.
In July, Supervisor Miley hosted a community celebration to highlight the progress of his illegal dumping pilot program. Neighbors were invited to learn more about the program, which features street cleanups, community outreach, and new partnerships between the Alameda County Sheriff’s office, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley, Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, and Oakland City Councilmembers Larry Reid and Rebecca Kaplan.
“I am so proud to be part of this community and forging the partnerships needed to take action and improve our surroundings here in East Oakland,” said Zeydi Gutierrez, director of community relations at AB&I Foundry. “We’ve been part of the fabric of this community for more than a century and have witnessed the increase in illegal dumping. We decided make a difference.”
The city of Oakland says it has at least 100 illegal dumping hot spots. This is a plague on our community that needs to be addressed with rigorous enforcement for violators.
Media Contact: Francesca Dunbar
Director of Group Marketing, McWane Plumbing Group
(925) 216-1828
Francesca.dunbar@mcwaneplbgrp.com
About AB&I Foundry
AB&I Foundry, based in Oakland, CA, is a division of McWane, Inc. Born in the shadows of the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906, AB&I Foundry has been producing quality cast iron products for over a hundred years. Acquired by McWane in 2006, AB&I manufactures a full-line of cast iron soil pipe and fittings for DWV systems. In addition, AB&I has become a modern, highly-technological full- service provider of custom OEM gray iron castings for companies nationwide. Through a comprehensive program of water treatment, air pollution reduction, recycling, and solid-waste management, AB&I has set the standard for responsible foundry practices and policies.
About McWane Inc.
McWane, Inc. is a family-owned business based in Birmingham, Alabama, with companies across the U.S. and around the world. The McWane family of companies casts ductile iron products, including pipe, valves, hydrants, fittings and plumbing products; manufactures fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems and steel pressure vessels; and builds network switches and monitoring equipment. McWane is a leader in delivering clean, safe drinking water while focusing on safe, environmentally friendly manufacturing processes. With more than 7,000 team members, McWane has a longstanding commitment of supporting the communities where our team members live and work. For more information, visit mcwane.com.
