Environmental stewardship is an important part of the mission at ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, and its team members collaborate with local universities, environmental organizations and government agencies to develop solutions that benefit both industry and the environment.
One place where this environmental stewardship happens is the Wildlife Education Building (WEB) and Arboretum around ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge facilities. This 200-acre space, home to over 1,600 trees and diverse wildlife, serves as a resource for school groups, clubs and campers to learn more about habitat creation, healthy ecosystems and their role in the environment. Since last summer, hundreds of students have participated in STEM projects in the space, as well as nature walks and hands-on activities like building birdhouses and learning about pollinators.
The WEB and surrounding space has made such a positive impact that last year, the national Wildlife Habitat Council designated it as a silver-level Certified Wildlife Habitat.
“This recognition reflects the dedication of our team to creating ecosystems that not only protect local wildlife but also engage and educate the next generation,” said Tara Bazille, ExxonMobil Baton Rouge Environmental Advisor. “We believe that by balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility, we can build a brighter future for our community and the planet.”
Another project for ExxonMobil has been its work along the Monte Sano Bayou, which is located adjacent to the company’s facilities in North Baton Rouge. The bayou is part of the BREC park system and is recognized as a critical stormwater demonstration site by the Louisiana Stormwater Coalition (LSC) for its vital role in absorbing stormwater and reducing flooding in Baton Rouge.
In July 2024, a litter boom was installed across Monte Sano Bayou thanks to an investment by ExxonMobil in collaboration with the LSC and Osprey Initiative LLC. This floating barrier is designed to prevent litter from continuing to move downstream, and the collected litter is assessed to determine its source, with the ultimate goal of reducing it.
“As long-standing members of the North Baton Rouge community, we are dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for our neighbors and employees,” said Regina Davis, ExxonMobil Complex Refinery Manager. “Our collaboration on this initiative reflects our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of respect and care for the neighborhoods surrounding our facilities.”
So far, the boom has collected close to 1,000 pounds of litter. The majority of the litter (33 percent) was plastic, while 17 percent was paper. Smaller amounts of styrofoam, glass, metal and other materials have also been collected.
“We hope that this litter boom will help keep the bayou clean and free of trash and debris,” said Jeff Kuehny, Director of the Botanic Gardens at Burden and LSC co-founder. “Over the past two-plus years, we have proudly worked with ExxonMobil on hands-on cleanups of the bayou, and we were grateful to enhance this work with the installation of a permanent litter removal boom. By reducing and preventing litter in the bayou, we will strengthen our efforts to improve stormwater management, beautify our community and support a cleaner Mississippi River and Gulf.”
Three ExxonMobil projects were also recently celebrated at the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality’s Environmental Leadership Program Awards for outstanding leadership in the areas of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Outreach. The projects recognized included waste reductions at the Baton Rouge Complex and Plastics Plant as well as community and environmental outreach programs in North Baton Rouge.
In addition to this work, ExxonMobil is a proud sponsor of Love the Boot Week, an annual initiative across Louisiana to clean up litter and beautify spaces. Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the organization that hosts Love the Boot Week, awarded ExxonMobil the Clean Biz Leadership Award in 2023 for its dedication to the mission and its operational practices to support a cleaner and greener community.
ExxonMobil’s commitment to creating a positive impact in Baton Rouge goes beyond a singular corporate initiative. It encompasses a comprehensive series of efforts aimed at fostering a cleaner, more resilient future by collaborating with local leaders, organizations, students, and educators.
This story originally appeared in The Advocate by Amanda McElfresh. You can view the original story online here.
