Weis Markets Earns Props for Recycling

The Professional Recyclers of Pennsylvania (PROP) has recognized Weis Markets for its commitment to recycling and its innovative program to recycle waxed cardboard used to ship and store fresh vegetables and meats.

Last year, Weis Markets teamed up with Georgia-based Enviro-Log, which turns waxed cardboard into Envirolog-brand fireplace logs that are sold in Weis stores. Typically, supermarkets send most of their waxed cardboard to landfills because it is difficult to recycle. Today, all 163 Weis stores participate in this program.

“We are extremely proud of our store associates for making our company’s waxed cardboard recycling program a success,” said Kevin Small, Weis VP of store development. “This program has helped us reduce our store waste and our reliance on landfills. It also represents our commitment to finding new ways to reduce our carbon foot print and to improve our sustainability practices.”

PROP is a non-profit association of recycling professionals dedicated to promoting and enhancing the interests of recycling and composting programs in Pennsylvania through education, information exchange, technical support, applied research and coordination of recycling industry initiatives.

Sunbury, Pa.-based Weis Markets annually recycles more than a million pounds of plastic bags and 14 million pounds of cardboard. It operates supermarkets in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.