Toro to Install Emissions Control System at Bloomington Facility
The Toro Company recently reached an agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) to install a catalytic oxidizer system to control emissions at the company's Bloomington engineering test facility. When fully operational, the new system will reduce carbon monoxide and other contaminants in the exhausted air by more than 90 percent.
In January 2008, Toro discovered an issue with its current exhaust system, reported it to the MPCA, and started discussions on how to manage emission levels. The new system not only maximizes the benefit of Toro's engineering test group which is key to the company's innovation but also goes a step further to help reduce other contaminants not currently regulated.
Under terms of the agreement with the MPCA, Toro will pay a penalty of $30,000 and the system must be up and running by Aug. 31.
"This investment supports our commitment to responsible environmental practices and allows us to fully meet the agency's requirements," said Tom Hawkinson, corporate environmental, health and safety manager at Toro. "Much like a catalytic converter on an automobile, this new system helps reduce emission levels and other organic pollutants by converting them to water and carbon dioxide."
Toro is partnering with Wenck Associates, an environmental engineering firm based in Maple Plain, Minn., to design and install the scrubber technology. The total investment is approximately $1 million.