Subaru Celebrates Three Years of Zero Landfill

Subaru has more than just one reason to celebrate a milestone in the auto industry. First, 2007 marks its three-year anniversary of zero landfill status at its manufacturing plant, Subaru of Indiana Automotive. Second milestone to celebrate is the sale of its 100,000th PZEV or Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle.

Both milestones reflect the long-standing commitment of the Japanese automaker in safeguarding the environment. This fact is avidly enjoyed by Subaru’s clientele. "We are pleased to mark these milestones," said Tomohiko Ikeda, the chairman, president and CEO, Subaru of America Inc. "At Subaru, we are committed to not only maintain an effective environmental management system, but also to integrate sound environmental practices throughout our business."

In the Indiana Subaru plant, nothing is sent to a landfill. Why? Anything that is not recycled would result in more garbage sent to landfills than the whole Subaru manufacturing operations. The Subaru plant was the first auto plant in the United States to achieve the zero landfill status, with all its waste being either recycled, reused or converted to electricity for the city of Indianapolis.

The Indianapolis Subaru plant is also a designated backyard wildlife habitat. Deer, coyotes, beavers, geese, rabbits, blue herons, squirrels, ducks, meadowlarks and other animals live there in serene coexistence with the Subaru plant. In 2006, Subaru was awarded the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Gold Achievement Award as a top achiever in the agency's WasteWise program to eliminate waste and boost recycling initiatives.

Subaru also manufactures PZEV certified Legacy, Outback and Forester models, available for sale anywhere in the U.S. The PZEV certified, normally aspirated, Subaru Legacy, Outback and Forester models are SmartWay certified by the EPA. To date, Subaru has sold 100,000 Subaru PZEVs, which have ninety percent cleaner emissions than the average new vehicle.

Currently, PZEVs are the cleanest gasoline vehicles available. Additionally, they conform to emissions standards that are sometimes even cleaner than some hybrid or alternative fuel product lines. These vehicles have such taut pollution controls, with the burning of fuel so complete, that in very misty urban areas, exhaust out of the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air outside.

The Subaru Outlook, equipped with a 3.0 L H6, was launched at the 2004 Chicago Auto Show. The model carries similar model codes as the Legacy Wagon, BP9 for the 2.5 liter, and BPE for the 3.0 liter model. In Japan, the vehicle is officially called the Legacy Outback. The Outback received styling revisions for the 2008 model year. Saturn auto parts are modified to boost the vehicle’s appeal. It features notably enlarged, chrome-ringed grill and other cutting-edge parts.

The Subaru Forester is a compact crossover SUV released in the United States in 1998, based on the chassis of the Subaru Impreza. This year the Forester line was expanded to five models: the 2.5 X, 2.5 X L.L. Bean edition, Sports 2.5 X, 2.5 XT Limited, and the Sports 2.5 XT.

The Subaru Legacy, on the other hand, is a mid-size car launched as a larger, upscale sibling to the Leone or Loyale. In 1990, the vehicle was launched in the USA with a newly developed boxer engine layout called the EJ series.

According to the EPA, Subaru’s PZEVs are among the cleanest and most fuel-efficient vehicles available in the United States based on greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution, and overall fuel economy. Subaru PZEVs flaunt tight pollution controls and the burning of fuel is so absolute that in very smoggy urban areas, exhaust out of the tailpipe can actually be cleaner than the air outside. Subaru PZEVs are also U.S. EPA Certified SmartWay Vehicles. Also, Subaru PZEVs meet California's exhaust emission standard.