SAN BERNARDINO — Stater Bros. Markets here said the chain has been named winner of the 2010 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery for its green business practices.
Stater said it was cited for eliminating more than 141.5 million pounds of waste from landfills in 2009 through a variety of programs, including turning 27 million pounds of organic waste into compost that was sold to area farmers; recycling over 74 million pounds of cardboard; recycling more than 8.5 million pounds of sustainable rendering products; donating over 3.8 million pounds of food to local food banks; and recycling over 2.8 million pounds of plastic bags.
The company was also lauded for printing its weekly ads on recycled paper; participating in California's Voluntary Demand Response Program to reduce energy consumption at store level when demand is high; and establishing an employee “green team” representing all areas of the company to review, select and implement business practices that promote the long-term well-being of the company, the community and the environment.