The King County’s Industrial Waste Program recently recognized Black Oxide LLC of Auburn for its environmentally sound business practices.

The company was awarded for protecting water quality by meeting or exceeding its wastewater discharge permit requirements in 2009.

Black Oxide LLC also received the award in 2008.

Each year, the Industrial Waste Program, which operates as part of the county’s Wastewater Treatment Division, recognizes local companies whose wastewater pretreatment efforts, permit compliance and excellent record keeping contribute to regional pollution prevention goals.

The county presented a Gold Award to 58 companies for discharging wastewater with no violations in 2009, and 17 companies earned a Silver Award for having no discharge monitoring violations in 2009.

Since 1969, the Industrial Waste Program has required many industries to pretreat wastewater before discharging it into the sewer to protect the county’s treatment facilities and its workers as well as the environment and public health.

In addition to regulatory enforcement, the program serves as a resource to businesses by supporting their permit compliance efforts and educating them about pollution prevention, waste reduction and water conservation.

For more information about the program, visit www.kingcounty.gov/industrialwaste.