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AEP River Operations
According to their website, AEP River Operations is a barge line transporting grain, project cargo, coal, steel, ores and other bulk products throughout the inland waterways.[1] They operate a fleet of over 60 towboats and more than 3,200 barges.

In 2011, AEP River Operations is transforming their M/V Donna Rushing to have the least environmental impact of any towboat on the river. Its overhaul incorporates the most fuel-efficient, low-emission, energy-saving equipment available, as well as Tier III engines, not widely available until next year. Further, it will be the only towboat in the US equipped with all LED lighting. A team effort at AEP integrating the suggestions of both AEP Mariners and outside agencies, the boat includes many other environmentally friendly features and will influence the choices made with all future building projects at the company.

Additionally, See Green [2], an environmental program, started on October 1, 2008 at AEP River Operations' facility in Convent, LA. Technological advances and the onset of “single stream” recycling have allowed the AEP team to recycle more than two barge loads worth of recyclables from their boats.

The idea of “single stream” recycling (all waste in one container vs. separate containers) has made this process possible and more efficient. Presently, this process is only available in certain areas of the country. As more areas respond to the need for “single stream” recycling, AEP River Operations hopes to see a jump from the 90% of onboard waste currently being recycled to 100% being recycled.

The company has also taken it a step further and recycled 70,000 pounds of vessel mooring lines. These lines would have packed landfills or even caused danger to boats by getting tangled in their propellers.

Currently all of AEP River Operations towboats, from West Virginia to New Orleans, are participating in recycling all or a portion of their onboard wastes. All of AEP River Operations' facilities are participating in the program.