What other grocers are doing

Most large grocery retailers in the Lower Mainland have food scraps recycling programs and infrastructure in place. Like any recycling program, there is often always room for improvement in how well food waste and other compostable items are captured in these recycling programs.

When some of the region’s grocers audited their garbage bins, they found other regular recyclables. Clean cardboard is easily recyclable and can be sold, reducing overall waste management costs. In some cases, up to 60% of the garbage was food and other compostable items that can be recycled.

Below are examples of leadership in the grocery retail sector. If you have a story to tell, please contact ODB@metrovancouver.org

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Dollar Grocers shares challenges and successes of establishing a food scraps recycling program in a grocery store.

Overwaitea Food Group ramps up its organics recycling program by focusing on preventing and recycling food waste from prep and sales areas. The grocery retailer also has a strategy for managing packaged food waste.

Choices Markets in the Lower Mainland recycles food scraps from their own locations, processes them into beautiful compost, and sells it to their customers during the peak growing season. A perfect closed loop.

Enterra Feed Corporation in Vancouver receives feedstock, sourced from grocery stores and food distributors, and up-cycles the nutrients into sustainable protein and oils, to feed fish and livestock, and a natural organic fertilizer used for soil conditioning to increase crop yields.

Portland Oregon has had a similar food scraps disposal ban in place. Find out how the New Seasons Market saved over $25,000 in waste management costs, reduced their garbage by 30%, and increased their donations of healthy food, all while growing their business.