Wegmans Cuts Back on Chemicals

SN STAFF

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Wegmans Food Markets will begin cleaning its floors with plain tap water instead of cleaning solution Thursday.

The aisles in its 77 stores will be washed daily with an ec-H20 floor scrubber with an electrified screen that activates the water, creating micro-bubbles and charged water molecules that act like magnets to attract dirt on the floor. As the charged water returns to the tank, it reverts to ordinary tap water allowing the dirt to sink to the bottom.

Wegmans tested the cleaning method for a month in two Rochester-area stores before deciding to make the change. “We were very impressed on all fronts so switching over to this new, safer cleaning method was an easy call,” said Sustainability Coordinator, Jason Wadsworth, in a statement.

The new floor scrubbers can switch back and forth between chemical cleaning and water only, as needed. “Our intent is to reduce chemical use as much as possible, and we expect that under most circumstances, we’ll be cleaning without chemicals,” said Wadsworth.