Sign In
Upcoming Event
Free Newsletter
Bethlehem manufacturer Dent Design Hardware honored for environmental stewardship
Stacy Wescoe//June 23, 2021
Bethlehem manufacturer Dent Design Hardware honored for environmental stewardship
Stacy Wescoe//June 23, 2021//
Listen to this article
A Bethlehem manufacturer has received the Small Business Environmental Stewardship Award from the National Small Business Environmental Assistance Program.
Dent Design Hardware is a maker of specialized custom hardware and castings, and commercial refrigeration hardware for Original Equipment Manufacturers.
The company was recognized for its accomplishments for improving environmental performance, pollution prevention and sustainability.
According to program organizers, Dent was working with the Environmental Management Assistance Program to address stormwater issues at the facility, but owner Tim Dodge went beyond what was needed.
Once the original stormwater permit was issued, EMAP continued to help Dent Design meet permit obligations, including annual stormwater sampling, coordinating with a local laboratory, compiling lab results and filing annual reports.
Dodge planted local, native plants on the perimeter of one stormwater outfall to mitigate the volume of water leaving the property and to reduce contaminants. The changes greatly reduced runoff.
“Dent uses geo-thermal heating and cooling for the manufacturing location, works only with food-grade materials in our Walk In Hardware line, and strives to be good stewards of the 2.6-acre property which is more than 50% natural-growth riparian buffer to ensure that stormwater is absorbed into the ground as much as possible and avoid runoff,” Dodge said.
EMAP Program Manager Jeremy Hancher nominated Dent for the award.
“It is certainly not easy for a small business owner to suddenly become a storm chaser collecting stormwater samples, so we are extremely happy to see Tim and Dent Design Hardware be recognized for their positive environmental actions,” said Hancher. “Dent Design Hardware has been a good role model for very small businesses, especially in the manufacturing sector, challenged with environmental and economic challenges.
