Hannaford Bros. Co. Named "Recycler of the Year" by Regional Waste Systems

PORTLAND, Maine - The Recycling Committee of Regional Waste Systems has named Hannaford Bros. Co. its "Recycler of the Year" for the grocery store chain's success and innovation with recycling.

Recycling Committee Chair Carol Fritz presented the award to Ted Brown, the environmental affairs manager at Scarborough-based Hannaford, which operates 46 supermarkets and two large distribution centers in Maine, at the RWS annual meeting July 18.

Each year, the volunteer committee honors an individual, group or corporation that has increased or improved recycling in southern Maine. Kathleen Casey, founder of The Green Machine, a recycler for Portland-area small businesses, received the award last year.

This year, the Recycling Committee was most impressed by the success of Hannaford's corporate recycling program. Hannaford has led the food industry in recycling its waste for many years, and in 2001 achieved a 65 percent recycling rate at its Maine facilities, a new high for the company.

"Hannaford truly is one of the most innovative companies around when it comes to developing and implementing creative and effective ways to maximize recycling," said Fritz, a Cape Elizabeth resident. "Their efforts are truly astounding. Hannaford deserves our recognition."

Hannaford encourages customers to reuse bags by providing a 5-cent refund-for-reuse of fabric bags and a 2 cent refund for each reuse of plastic or paper bags. Each year, tens of thousands of bags are reused by Hannaford customers, helping to reduce the amount of waste going to landfills and incinerators. Hannaford customers in Maine also have purchased more than 100,000 fabric bags in Hannaford supermarkets, earning refunds every time they re-use them.

Hannaford also is continuing to look at ways to expand its successful corporate organics diversion program. Any Maine store that participates in the company's composting program will see its recycling rate jump to more than 90 percent annually, Hannaford officials said.

Hannaford also is the only company in New England, and one of two nationally, that recovers waxed corrugated cardboard from all its supermarkets. In addition, Hannaford is the only supermarket in the country to offer its customers plastic bags made from more than 50 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.

"Hannaford is committed to reducing its waste through creative recycling initiatives," said Brown, a Brunswick resident. "We appreciate receiving this recognition from RWS, which plays such an important role in recycling throughout the region."

The "Recycler of the Year" award is part of an annual recognition program initiated by RWS, which includes a youth essay contest during the school year to promote and encourage recycling in the region. RWS also has a recycling mascot called "Reggie" who is available for public and school events, and a recycling display for towns to use at fairs, events and in town offices.

Regional Waste Systems is a non-profit solid waste management corporation that is owned and controlled by 21 cities and towns, and also has six associate member towns. RWS also is the largest municipal recycling organization in the state. Established in 1974 after Portland, South Portland, Cape Elizabeth and Scarborough decided to form a cooperative to handle their waste disposal, today RWS is governed by a 28-member board, consisting of officials appointed from member towns.

Communities served by RWS are: Baldwin, Bridgton, Cape Elizabeth, Casco, Cumberland, Falmouth, Freeport, Gorham, Gray, Harrison, Hollis, Limington, Lyman, Naples, North Yarmouth, Ogunquit, Parsonsfield, Porter, Portland, Pownal, Raymond, Scarborough, South Portland, Standish, Waterboro, Windham, and Yarmouth.

RWS accepts solid waste and recycled materials from these communities and also has a comprehensive, state-of-the-art recycling program with more than 100 recycling bins in 60 locations. For additional information on RWS, visit the RWS web site, www.regionalwaste.org.

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