Supermarket Recycling Program

An Effective Practice

Description

In Massachusetts, grocery stores discard an estimated 90,600 tons of organic waste per year. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) and Massachusetts Food Association (MFA) established a voluntary Supermarket Recycling Program Certification (SRPC) to promote reducing, recycling, and reusing food waste and other organic materials. Stores can obtain SRPC status annually by certifying that they have a comprehensive recycling and reuse program in place. Programs include food donations to local food shelters and diversion of food scraps, cardboard, paper, plants, and wooden boxes to composting. Composting is a cost-effective alternative to waste disposal, which costs $80-$100 per ton. MassDEP provides technical assistance to participating stores to help them develop and promote their program. Participating stores receive positive public recognition and save money in disposal fees.

Goal / Mission

The goal of the Supermarket Recycling Program is to encourage supermarkets to develop programs to recycle and reuse organic waste and other materials.

Results / Accomplishments

As of May 2008, more than 200 stores from six major supermarket chains were participating in the Supermarket Recycling Program. Stores diverting organic materials to reuse or recycling were saving between $3,000 and $20,000 per year in disposal costs. In 2005, participating stores achieved 60-75% recycling rates, collectively recycling 65.9% of supermarkets' total waste stream and avoiding $700,000 in disposal costs.

About this Promising Practice

Organization(s)
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Massachusetts Food Association (MFA)
Primary Contact
Morgan Harriman
MassDEP/BWP
Supermarket Recycling Certification
One Winter Street
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 654-6580
morgan.harriman@state.ma.us
http://www.mass.gov/dep/recycle/supermkt.htm
Topics
Environmental Health / Energy & Sustainability
Organization(s)
Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), Massachusetts Food Association (MFA)
Source
Environmental Protection Agency
Date of publication
2008
Date of implementation
1996
Location
Massachusetts
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