For nearly 20 years, Honda’s S.C. Manufacturing (SCM) facility has been committed to wildlife conservation, completing over 175 activities for Wildlife & Industry Together (WAIT), a South Carolina Wildlife Federation program. From planting and relocating trees to creating food plots and installing birdhouses, wood duck boxes and beehives, we’re helping to enhance biodiversity.
In May, SCM teamed up with WAIT for a fishing day event, bringing together youth and SCM associates to fish from the shore of the stocked pond on property while enjoying the great outdoors with family and friends. Participants enjoyed a complimentary lunch, and all youth took home their catch along with door prizes!
Thank you to Honda South Carolian Mfg for this update.
Why WAIT?
SCWF partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program and how to join here.
I visited Lonza for the first time at their facility in Greenwood, SC, shortly after they joined the WAIT program in 2018. While taking a walk on their nature trail, which passes by some of the 70 acres of mixed hardwood forest that surrounds their property, I forgot that I was still on a property where hundreds of employees worked.
The pollinator garden that was created 7 years ago is still going strong and supports many types of insects and arachnids, which in turn, supports an abundance of native wildlife on the property.
Image caption: The spiny oakworm caterpillar and the walnut sphinx moth caterpillar are both good examples of species that are supported by the mixed hardwood forest on Lonza’s property.
To better connect employees to the outdoors, a courtyard was created to give the employees a safe and natural place to relax and enjoy the fresh air and sunlight the area offers. Two outdoor seating areas, where furniture using recycled materials were used, create additional areas for employees to connect with the outdoors during breaks. A solar powered charger was even installed for employees needing to recharge their devices. With plans to install interpretive nature signs at these outdoor break areas, Lonza’s WAIT team looks to further educate employees about native wildlife and ways to connect with it!
Thank you Lonza for all of your hard work and dedication to wildlife conservation on your property!
Why WAIT?
SCWF partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program and how to join here.
Banner image credit: Ruby-throated hummingbird on salvia by Susan Stamey.
Michelin’s US1 facility is proud to be the latest addition to the WAIT (Wildlife And Industry Together) program, joining other certified Michelin sites across South Carolina. With a strong commitment to protecting biodiversity, including at its operational sites, Michelin’s team launched a rigorous process in 2023 to ensure that all innovations are properly suited to the specific location.
Collaborating with Furman University, they developed a comprehensive biodiversity management plan for Michelin sites across the U.S. and Canada, including at the company’s Greenville Passenger Car Tire Manufacturing site, US1. Utilizing insights from Furman University and the SC Wildlife Federation, Michelin has made significant strides in creating and maintaining diverse ecosystems.
The saddleback caterpillar moth will likely be supported by the blueberry plants installed on the property.
The caterpillar skiff moth will likely be supported by the blueberry plants installed on the property.
Efforts include the planting of 30 blueberry bushes, which are excellent for supporting moths and butterflies, and the enhancement of a four-acre area with a diverse array of native flowers. Additionally, multiple birdhouses have been installed around the perimeter, and several fenced gardens featuring 12 different native plants have been created to attract pollinators. In a further commitment to biodiversity, US1 has adopted a 0 PHYTO policy, which prohibits the use of pesticides on the property, thereby providing a safer habitat for wildlife.
Thank you Michelin US1 for all of your hard work and dedication to wildlife conservation on your property!
Why WAIT?
SCWF partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program and how to join here.
One of the greatest things we can see on a Wildlife And Industry Together or WAIT partner’s property are signs that wildlife has a place to feed and reproduce in a safe environment. Oshkosh Defense LLC in Spartanburg, SC, has developed such an area on part of its property for birds like red-winged blackbirds, Eastern bluebirds, and even the steeply declining loggerhead shrike, which has been seen in and around the parking lot feeding on the insects or other prey near the native plants that were installed to attract wildlife.
Image Caption: Killdeer on nest at Oshkosh Defense.
In a press release, Trent McJunkin, facilities and maintenance manager said: “Our intent is to turn our greenspace at the facility into a thriving habitat for native wildlife, supporting biodiversity, and a healthy ecosystem. Trent added that: “This effort not only helps wildlife flourish, but also increases efficiencies in groundskeeping, demonstrating that sustainability and operational effectiveness can go hand in hand.”
Why WAIT?
SCWF partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program and how to join here.
BMW Manufacturing, another great Wildlife And Industry Together or WAIT partner from the upstate of SC, has been an engaged partner in wildlife habitat creation and conservation for years. From pollinator habitat to the installation of nest boxes and native trees, their team of engaged employees is always eager to learn more about conservation and what they can do on their property to help local wildlife. Recently, over 100 native trees were planted in an area behind one of their training facilities. These trees, which include oaks, elms, hornbeam, pine, among other species, will produce millions of insects (if not more) over the years that will be consumed by birds, reptiles, mammals, and even other insects.
BMW staff, along with Industry Habitat Manager, Jay Keck, recently installed six Eastern bluebird boxes on the property, adding to the already existing Wood Duck and bluebird boxes. The installation was followed up with a talk about the importance of cavity nests and native plants.
Thank you, BMW, for providing us with the opportunity to educate your employees, as well as taking the time to increase wildlife habitat and nesting opportunities for a number of local wildlife species!
Why WAIT?
SCWF partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program and how to join here.
The team at Martin Marietta’s Berkeley Quarry goes above and beyond to educate local students and the community about the natural history of the Cross, South Carolina area, and how the quarry functions while respecting our natural resources.
Combined with numerous field trips, which include visits with local schools, gem and mineral clubs and community organizations, Berkeley Quarry’s crew educates close to 1,000 people annually, sharing information about a little known underground world that is normally hidden from view. Fossil collecting, geode breaking stations, a child mining area, quarry tours and geology lessons are among the activities that visitors enjoy while learning from the site’s knowledgeable and talented team members.
In addition to the geological interests of the area, habitat creation and preservation is important to Martin Marietta as well. Working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and American Forest Management, the Berkeley Quarry team has set aside several hundred acres of forested land that is intended to preserve habitat for both birds and animals. Wood duck boxes have also been installed on the grounds, and the area is regularly patrolled by a bald eagle that glides through the skies in search of prey.
Through community education, wildlife habitat creation and sustainable practices, Martin Marietta exemplifies how a large corporation should operate in an ecologically responsible way.
We hope this approach continues for years to come!
Why WAIT?
SCWF partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program, and how to joinhere.
With the goal of increasing biodiversity on their property, Michelin US-2, located right outside of Anderson, SC, is happy to announce they are no longer using pesticides, fertilizers, or chemical weed treatment on their property. They are working towards removing all invasive Callery (Bradford) pear trees, which will allow native vegetation to replace this ecologically destructive tree species.
Michelin recently partnered with Furman University and Dr. John Quinn, professor of Biology, to perform multiple species inventories to record what kind of flora and fauna is present on their property. In addition to seven turtle species found on the property, great blue herons, bald eagles, and a variety of frog species were recorded too.
Species like the ones pictured above are thriving at US-2’s property. Image Credits L to R: Eastern Box Turtle Strolling in the Leaves by Jenna Plating and Greer’s Great Blue Heron by Katie Derhay.
With the good work being done on US-2’s property, the nature trail, which was established for employees and their families to enjoy, should be teaming with a healthy variety of wildlife for years to come. Thank you, Michelin, for providing yet another example of your company working to improve habitat conditions for wildlife throughout SC. And congratulations on celebrating 50 years at this site!
Why WAIT?
SCWF Partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program , and how to join here.
U.S. Silica, in Lexington county, SC, is one of our more recent additions to the Wildlife And Industry Together Program, or WAIT program. U.S. Silica provides excellent habitat for sandhills species. Open areas on the property provide nesting and hunting opportunities for birds like the American kestrel, painted bunting, and many owl species, including the Eastern screech owl – a declining species. Discussions were had about providing nest boxes for barn owls on the property due to giant swaths of land that would be ideal for this open-habitat specialist. Besides beautiful birds, reptiles like the Eastern glass lizard and Eastern fence lizard can be observed, sometimes quite abundantly, in sandhill habitat similar to what is found on US Silica’s property.
Image Captions L to R: Eastern fence lizard and Eastern glass lizard by Jay Keck.
Shorebirds find food on large shallow ponds on the property during migration to and from their breeding grounds. Industry Habitat Manager, Jay Keck, will be joining a group of bird experts this month to take a survey of what shorebird species are being supported on the property during fall migration. The data will be recorded and could be used to enhance the property’s habitat to help more species in the future.
Finally, during a recent field trip focused on the environment and sustainability, environmental and engineering majors from SC State University visited the plant to learn about the resources utilized for their processes and how they are managed. They also learned how US Silica reuses the water, how they recycle products such as oils and chemicals used on machinery, and how they work with DHEC on environmental reporting and testing. Thank you, U.S. Silica, for providing critical habitat for many of SC’s species in this unique part of our state, and thank you for teaching the next generation of environmentalists and engineers how a corporation can reach its production and sustainability goals through leadership and vision.
SC State University enviromental and engineering majors visting US Silica.
Why WAIT?
SCWF Partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program, and how to join here.
ReWa is a wastewater utility that’s served the Upstate since 1925. ReWa cleans and releases 44 million gallons of water daily into area streams and rivers while serving Greenville County and portions of Anderson, Laurens, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. We have nine water resource recovery facilities and more than 430 miles of pipe.
As a WAIT partner, some of our many programs include:
Oyster shell recycling:Since 2017, ReWa has participated in the South Carolina Oyster Recycling and Enhancement (SCORE) program through the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR). ReWa accepts oyster shells recycled by the public on its Mauldin Road campus. Volunteers from ReWa and SCDNR also bring shells from restaurants to the bin. In 2023 and 2024, ReWa employees participated in oyster reef rebuilds with SCDNR staff on Edisto Island. Since 2023, ReWa has assisted in recycling approximately 66,000 pounds of oyster shells that have been returned to the coast. Recycled oyster shells reduce erosion along the state’s coast, provide habitat for aquatic life and lead to more oysters, which improve water quality through filtration.
Photos of oyster shell recycling are courtesy of ReWa.
‘ReWa Gives Back’: ReWa’s commitment to serving and investing in the community is reinforced by the ReWa Gives Back volunteer program. Employees are encouraged to volunteer four hours a year during normal work hours. This supports the community and helps ReWa’s employees better understand the communities we serve while improving the utility’s service. The program fosters a culture of responsibility, community service among employees, teamwork, employee engagement and opportunities for personal development.
Natural Resource projects/habitat: ReWa’s Mauldin Road Water Resource Recovery Facility is its largest property. It includes wetlands and floodplains for the Reedy River and one of its tributaries, Brushy Creek. The Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail runs through a portion of the property adjacent to the Reedy and it continues downstream into Conestee Nature Preserve. Habitat enhancement on this property includes duck boxes, bluebird boxes and wildlife viewing stations in the wetlands for birders and hikers to enjoy. ReWa has also undertaken streambank enhancement work along stretches of the Reedy River and Brushy Creek to reduce sediment transport.
Photos of habitat improvements and wildlife viewing station are courtesy of ReWa.
Reuse water: The water treated and released into the environment daily by ReWa is known as effluent. Each year, ReWa uses 3.6 million gallons of effluent for irrigation purposes at its facilities. The utility’s administration building and its Innovation Campus receive the most visitors among the utility’s properties and guests can see educational gardens that are irrigated by the utility’s effluent. ReWa also uses 700 million gallons of effluent per year during the water treatment process.
Litter Prevention: ReWa’s Bandalong™ Litter Trap is in a portion of Brushy Creek on the utility’s Mauldin Road campus. It’s designed to collect an average of 30,000 pounds of floating litter and debris each year to reduce pollution farther downstream. The trap does not affect the hydraulics of the water body, nor does it affect aquatic life or wildlife. ReWa has hosted an annual river sweep since 1998 in portions of the Reedy River and Brushy Creek that flow through the utility’s Mauldin Road campus. It is intended to be held in conjunction with the annual statewide South Carolina Beach Sweep/River Sweep, which is organized by the S.C. Sea Grant Consortium and SCDNR. In 2023, ReWa’s employees and volunteers removed 3,060 pounds of trash and debris from portions of the Reedy River and Brushy Creek.
Photo is courtesy of ReWa.
Photo of ReWa’s Bandalong™ Litter Trap is courtesy of ReWa.
Watershed & natural resources specialist: ReWa employs a watershed and natural resources specialist, who provides strategic and technical support for the utility’s environmental initiatives and programs related to watershed planning, water quality monitoring and land resource development.
SCWF Partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program, and how to join here.
We are proud to highlight the wildlife conservation and education efforts being made by our Graniteville, SC, Wildlife And Industry Together (WAIT) partner, Bridgestone. Education and partnering with the community are taken very seriously at Bridgestone. With the assistance of staff from USC Aiken, the Bridgestone Environmental Education Program (BEEP) was created, offering students K-8 an opportunity to learn in a creative environment outside the classroom. Topics such as biodiversity, healthy soil and water, the life cycle of frogs and butterflies, and bird adaptations, are taught to visiting students, offering a unique opportunity to learn about local wildlife ecosystems!
One of the most engaging conservation efforts on the property for employees is their eastern bluebird project, which includes 31 eastern bluebird boxes that are checked by employees throughout the breeding season. The data is recorded and sent to the SC Bluebird Society which uses the data to track the health of bluebirds and other cavity nesters across the state.
Thank you to Bridgestone and its staff for their conservation efforts and for making their property a fun learning ground for local students!
Image Caption: Eastern bluebird eating a reptile by Jeff Amberg.
For employees three new SCWF interpretive signs were installed on the property, offering workers a quick and easy opportunity to learn more about local birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.
Why WAIT?
SCWF Partners with conservation-minded businesses throughout the state who want to help wildlife thrive by enhancing their properties and providing educational opportunities for their employees and communities. Read more about the WAIT Program, and how to join here.
