TSB's Social Impact

Happy New Year from TSB!

Social Impact of TSB

Tri-State Biodiesel is a “social enterprise” or a “triple bottom line” company. This means that rather than having a sole focus on profits, our company is also focused on the environmental and social impact of our business. We believe that in order for a business to be fully successful in the 21st century it must have a positive impact the environment and the lives of those who make up its workforce.

Here at TSB, we talk a lot about health and the environment, but there is another aspect of our company that is equally important and may not get the same amount of attention—our social impact. Social impact typically weighs a company’s hiring practices and how they treat their workers. Our company prides itself on offering not just jobs, but solid careers with livable wages that can stabilize and anchor our employees and provide them with the resources needed to professionally advance and live a dignified life.

To do our hiring, our company works closely with a number of nonprofit partners organizations to find good workers who have been previously unemployed and/or disadvantaged in today’s tough job market. We believe in hiring locally and offering a chance to minorities, women, and even previously homeless or formerly incarcerated, so long as they are willing to come in and work hard in a professional manner.

In 2010, 81% of our hires self reported as ethnic minorities (14 % women). 47% met the federal poverty guidelines previous to their employment with us and 38% of our hires in 2010 came to our doors as unemployed. TSB works closely with the Business Outreach Center (BOC) Network; Sustainable South Bronx; the Doe Fund; Workforce1 NYC Transportation Center; Goodwill Industries Bronx as well as a number of others.

Here at TSB, we believe in creating career-tract jobs that provide a living wage for all our workers so that they can afford to provide for themselves and their families. We believe in, and provide a health care plan so that they need not fear illness. We believe in and provide paid vacation time so that they may enjoy adequate rest and family time each year. And we believe in sharing some of our profits each year in the form of year-end bonuses.

One of the advantages of biodiesel fuel is that is sourced and produced locally, and replaces petroleum fuel that is often imported from far away places like the Middle East. This means with biodiesel, the money we spend on fuel creates local jobs, builds community and supports our local economy.

TSB is proud to have added 15 new jobs to our roster in the last year! With your continued support, we will continue to grow and provide a clean burning fuel that is better for not just our health and the environment but for our local economy as well.

As always, thank you for your support!

Best Regards,

The TSB Team

New York Floats Rules For Cleaner Heating Oil

Buildings in New York City would burn cleaner heating oil and emit far less pollution under proposed rules announced on Friday.

The rules, which are subject to a 30-day period of public comment and a hearing on Feb. 28, would phase out the dirtiest types of heating oil used by about 10,000 buildings in New York: No. 6, the cheapest but most viscous type pumped into aging boilers, and another heavy oil, No. 4, which is only slightly less noxious. Air pollution from these oils can irritate the lungs and worsen conditions like asthma and emphysema as well as increase the risk of heart attack and premature death.

This rule follows NYC recent legislation requiring the use of biodiesel in all heating oil starting in 2012 and is the next step in cleaning up the City's heating oil supply. Please take a moment to read the full article here (green.blogs.nytimes.com) and add your comments to the proposed rule here (nyc.gov/nycrules.) Let the city know that you strongly support phasing out #4 and 6 oil and phasing in of biodiesel into our heating oil supply.

k you for your support! Best regards, The TSB Team

TSB Featured in the Daily News Today!

The Daily News published a story today on our biodiesel gas station in the Bronx. The article features TSB, and highlights the fact that this is first ever biodiesel gas station in the city, located at 880 Garrison Ave, Bronx, NY Click Here to Read the Article