Sprouts plans for compost program

Sprouts Farmers Market called attention to its food rescue program and plans for a new compost program in a video posted to their YouTube page last week.

Each store donates products to one or two local food agencies, which make pickups three to five times a week, said Susan Welsh, Sprouts director of corporate social responsibility and sustainability, in the video.

“The food rescue program is the most important part of our landfill diversion program for 2014. We feel like it’s more important to donate to our communities for their health and well being than to put things in the trash,” said Welsh.

These donated products include fresh foods, and all the food donated must adhere to Sprouts’ guidelines for safety.

“After we have a strong foot hold on the food rescue program, we’re going to implement composting as each store, which will take the product that couldn’t go to food rescue and that can in turn go to feedlots or to compost programs,” Welsh said.

Welsh predicts that food rescue and composting programs combined will result in a 75% decrease in trash.