O’Fallon-based Hansen’s Tree Service was named as a finalist for the Sustainable Operations category of the St. Louis Business Journal’s Heroes of The Planet awards. The awards honor and promote businesses that have outperformed their industry in promoting and advancing environmental sustainability within our region.
Hansen’s was recognized for its ability to recycle nearly 100% of its waste stream in-house and for the public. The company specializes in recycling wood waste and green waste into usable, environmentally friendly products for the public.
“All award finalists have set a positive example of environmental sustainability. We are so proud to have them here as an influence on our region” says Mary Ann Fink, executive director of Missouri Landscape and Nursery Association. MLNA recognizes each of these finalists as winners within the green industry because of their high standards.
In 2001, Jeff Hansen, president, decided to begin recycling his green waste. Hansen’s Tree Service recycles 100 % of its green waste into reusable products. Each year, Hansen’s recycles approximately 108,000 cubic yards of wood waste, leaves and grass each year.
In 2005, Jeff Hansen began producing the area’s first 100% organic composted mulch. This composted mulch has the right balance of nutrients for strong plant growth. Hansen’s produces about 20,000 tons of organic mulch a year made from recycled wood waste.
In 2005, Hansen began a program where he provided wood-waste roll off containers for the commercial construction industry in order to keep that wood waste out of landfills. More commercial builders are participating in the program today because they want to be more environmentally friendly.
Recycling the green waste redirects it away from landfills. Hansen’s currently recycles green waste for six metropolitan cities in eastern Missouri, including O’Fallon, Lake Saint Louis, Wentzville, Wright City, Warrenton and Branson. Hansen’s is trying to appeal to more cities and counties to recycle their wood waste.
Hansen’s Tree Service also began its own HEROs program. This honor is bestowed upon customers, cities, anyone who does curbside or storm damage mitigation.
In 2006, Hansen’s agreed to take charge of Fred Weber Inc.’s green waste and recycling operations at its North Quarry operation, located at interstates 70 and 270. In 2008, Hansen announced a joint venture with Springfield, Mo.-based Leo Journagan Construction giving Hansen’s rights to manage all green-waste recycling for three of Journagan’s quarries in southern Missouri. In addition, Hansen’s Tree Service will begin to recycle roof shingles to be used in asphalt and oil byproducts.
Hansen’s Tree Service, founded by Jeff Hansen in 1988, performs residential and commercial tree services, including diagnosis, treatment, pruning, tree removal, stump removal and lawn care. As the first tree-care company in Missouri to become certified by the Tree Care Industry Association, Hansen’s maintains rigorous standards of quality and education to keep in line with the latest science in the industry.