Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is implementing a new waste reduction program at 4,400 sites across the US.
The program reduced landfill waste by more than 80% at test facilities in California, the retailer said.
Achieving a similar 80% reduction in its landfill waste across the country would move the company closer to its zero-waste goal, and save more than 11.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, Walmart estimates.
"Through this program we are able to provide the raw materials needed to make new products, recycle millions of pounds of commodities and reduce the environmental impact of landfills," said Bill Simon, president and CEO of Walmart U.S.
Beginning in 2009, Walmart created a nationwide infrastructure of landfill alternatives that could open new opportunities for municipalities and other businesses to reduce the amount of solid waste they send to landfills.
The Walmart zero waste program has three main components:
- Recycling cardboard, paper, aluminum, plastic bags and roughly 30 other items through the super sandwich bale (SSB) program. Items not eligible for the SSB, including wood pallets, polystyrene plastic and apparel, are sent to Walmart’s return centers for reuse or recycling.
- Donating healthy, nutritious food to food banks around the country. In 2010, Walmart donated 256 million pounds of food to hunger relief organizations-the equivalent of 197 million meals.
- Creating animal feed, energy or compost from expired food and other organic products following the EPA’s food waste hierarchy.
"Walmart is to be commended for making real progress in minimizing the environmental impact of waste from its stores," said Karen Luken, director of the Clinton Climate Initiative’s (CCI) Waste Program. "One of the key aims for CCI’s Waste Program is to reduce methane emissions from landfills, and Walmart’s initiative sends a clear message to other businesses that this is one source of emissions that can and should be addressed now."
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