Armstrong World Industries has named the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, Md., as its 2009 Ceiling Recycler of the Year. Over the past 14 months, the government agency has recycled more than 400,000 square feet of discarded ceiling tiles rather than sending them to a landfill.  

Armstrong World Industries has named the National Security Agency in Ft. Meade, Md., as its 2009 Ceiling Recycler of the Year. Over the past 14 months, the government agency has recycled more than 400,000 square feet of discarded ceiling tiles rather than sending them to a landfill. 

The Armstrong award recognizes companies and organizations that make significant environmental contributions through their recycling initiatives. Other recipients recognized for their outstanding recycling achievements have included General Motors, Nike, Pfizer, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The award was presented to NSA at a ceremony at the National Cryptologic Museum.

NSA began recycling old ceiling tiles in September 2008 as part of the Armstrong Ceiling Recycling Program. The program, which is the nation’s first and longest running program of its kind, enables building owners to ship ceilings from renovation projects to an Armstrong ceiling plant as an alternative to landfill disposal. 

Since it began the program in 1999, the ceilings manufacturer has recycled more than 80 million square feet of discarded ceiling tiles. This represents 40,000 tons or more than 11,000 dumpsters full of construction waste that would have normally been taken to landfills.