Waste management is an area of concern within major supermarket chains due to the sheer scale of waste products and packaging they are disposing of every single day. Supermarkets work hard to minimise wastage going to landfills by using several methods of recycling and disposing of food and packaging. So let’s look at the methods they use.
Plastic waste
Some plastic packaging, such as bottles, trays, and plastic cartons are compacted within a compactor and collected by waste recycling companies to be melted and made into different products. Not all plastic is recyclable though.
Paper waste
Supermarkets have an extremely high level of paper waste due to the outer packaging of many products they sell. As with plastic, paper is compacted and collected to be recycled.
Food waste
When dates go out of code and they can no longer be sold in stores. They would ordinarily be destined for the bin, however, some supermarkets have teamed up with local food banks, homeless shelters and farms to donate the out of date food too. This service is fantastic for reducing food waste landfills and provides charities and farms with much-needed food. Fruit, bread and vegetables are the most common foods donated along with damaged products which would otherwise be sent to landfills.
Supermarkets work hard to promote recycling and waste management whilst encouraging customers and their suppliers to do the same. By offering many recycling services such a clothing banks, battery disposable, as well as bottle banks, cardboard recycling to mention just a few.
With landfills being filled and new ones having to be created, it is important large companies play a part in reducing and promoting waste management and have this reflected within the stores own brand packaging and recyclable or reusable qualities. So next time you visit your local supermarket, remember to take your reusable shopping bags.