Stater Bros. Recognized for Waste Reduction

Regional independent Stater Bros. was recognized as a 2010 WRAP (Waste Reduction Awards Program) Winner by the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) for its chain-wide composting efforts and other green initiatives.

“Stater Bros. believes in doing the right thing for the right reason, stated Jack H. Brown, chairman and CEO of Stater Bros. “Protecting our environment is the ‘right thing,’ and the ‘right reason’ so future generations can live in a better world.”

On Earth Day 2009, Stater Bros. introduced a “Green Waste” Composting Program in all its 167 locations to turn organic waste into compost that is sold to area farmers.

In total, Stater Bros. diverted 141,489,966 pounds of waste from landfills in 2009. Of this, the new composting program diverted over 27 million pounds of waste from landfills in its eight months of operation in 2009. The grocer’s other notable green programs include recycling cardboard (over 74 million pounds in 2009), recycling sustainable rendering products (over 8.5 million pounds in 2009), donating food to local food banks (over 3.8 million pounds in 2009), and recycling plastic bags (over 2.8 million pounds in 2009). In addition, the company’s weekly ad is printed on recycled paper, and Stater Bros. participates in California’s Voluntary Demand Response Program to reduce energy consumption at store level when demand is high.

Stater Bros. has also established an employee Green Team with representatives from all areas of the company. The Green Team is committed to reviewing, selecting, and implementing business practices that promote the long-term well being of the company, the community, and the environment.

The CalRecycle Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) has been recognizing the environmentally friendly business strategies of California businesses since 1993.

Stater Bros. operates 167 supermarkets in Southern California.