CSX Celebrates Earth Month Across its Network

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 20, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate Earth Day and Earth Month, CSX Corporation (NYSE: CSX) is continuing its long-standing commitment to environmental sustainability by organizing a series of local events across its network and remaining focused on environmentally-friendly business practices. In addition, the company is working to raise awareness about the importance of protecting the environment by holding an online contest on the company's Facebook page.

"We look forward to volunteering our time and resources each year to celebrate Earth Day, but our commitment to the environment is much more than a one-day event," said Skip Elliott, vice president, public safety and environment. "CSX works to make every day Earth Day by reducing the company's environmental footprint and supporting sustainable development."

Throughout April, the environmental field service managers in many of CSX's field locations are hosting the company's fourth-annual city cleanups. Employees and volunteers will pick up trash and conduct other beautification efforts in Montgomery, Ala.; Waycross and Savannah, Ga.; Riverdale, Ill.; Avon, Ind.; Corbin, Ky.; Hamlet, N.C.; Selkirk, N.Y.; Columbus and Cleveland, Ohio; Nashville, Tenn.; and Philadelphia.

In addition, on Earth Day, April 22, CSX is sponsoring the Anacostia Watershed Earth Day Cleanup & Celebration in Washington, D.C., where more than 2,000 volunteers will remove trash at more than 40 sites along the watershed. That same day, in CSX's headquarters city of Jacksonville, CSX employees will staff booths at the city's Ecology Fair at the Jacksonville Landing and sponsor the City of Jacksonville's Earth Day poster contest for children. The following weekend in Charlotte, N.C., the company is partnering with customers for "The Great Charlotte Cleanup," a local cleanup effort tied to the Keep America Beautiful, Great American Clean Up.

"These activities are just some of the ways in which CSX contributes to environmental stewardship throughout the year, both through volunteering efforts and operational decisions," said Tori Kaplan, assistant vice president, corporate social responsibility.

Since 1980, CSX has improved its fuel efficiency by more than 90 percent, and with constant innovation, freight rail becomes more efficient every day. In the past five years, CSX has invested more than $1.75 billion to upgrade its fleet of fuel efficient locomotives.

Last year, CSX introduced an updated online carbon calculator that makes it easy for customers and consumers to understand the emissions savings that freight rail can deliver. Located on CSX's website, this tool helps customers and consumers optimize supply chains and bring goods to market more sustainably than ever before.  

Across the network, CSX protects local ecosystems through its Trees for Tracks program, the company's pledge to plant one tree for every mile of its 21,000 mile system. To date, the company has planted nearly 17,000 trees. These new trees improve air quality, offset carbon emissions, improve wildlife habitats and add beauty to the communities CSX serves.

CSX annually recognizes its customers who demonstrate continued dedication to safety in the transportation of hazardous materials through its Chemical Safety Excellence Award.  This year, CSX named 61 winners, who had each shipped more than 600 carloads of hazardous materials during the year without a non-accidental release.

CSX's Earth Month celebration has also moved online this year. Participants can enter the Environmental Pursuit contest by "liking" the official CSX Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and testing their environmental knowledge through a weekly interactive quiz by 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 30. In addition to the weekly prize winners, three grand prize winners will also each receive $1,000 from CSX, with a $1,000 matching donation provided to a charitable organization selected by each winner.

For more information on CSX's commitment to environmental sustainability or to learn how to get involved in local Earth Day volunteer activities, visit www.csx.com.

About CSX
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation's leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company's transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states, the District of Columbia and two Canadian provinces. CSX's network connects more than 240 short line railroads and more than 70 ocean, river, and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com. Like us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/OfficialCSX) and follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CSX).

SOURCE CSX Corporation