First zero waste to landfill supermarket
A Coles supermarket in Sydney’s west has become the first Australian supermarket to trial zero waste to landfill.
As part of a trial, the supermarket in Wentworth Point is sending zero waste to landfill, preventing the equivalent of 6.5 shopping trolleys going to landfill each day.
The purpose of the trial is to change in-store processes, put greater focus on source separation, and to partner with new facilities to use waste as a resource. This will mean more packaged and unpackaged food, cardboard, plastic, metal, glass, wax boxes, polystyrene and timber will be diverted from landfill.
Thinus Keeve from Coles says the trial of a zero waste to landfill store will help Coles find new ways to reduce waste in stores.
“Waste management is a key component of the sustainability of any business and reducing waste is a very important issue for our customers,” said Mr Keeve. “Everyone knows Australia has challenges in how we deal with our waste. That goes for everyone from households sorting their recycling to businesses like Coles. We all have a responsibility to play our part.”
The zero waste to landfill trial store will find new ways to recover residual dry waste such as mixed plastic and timber which historically has been the most difficult to divert from landfill.
“We are now the first Australian supermarket to attempt a zero waste to landfill store. Coles is passionate about driving generational sustainability with innovation that reduces environmental impact.”
Do you shop at the Wentworth Point Coles? Should all supermarkets attempt to send zero waste to landfill?
"Woolworths, the fresh food people, have today announced that they will commit to eliminate food waste that is sent to landfill by 2020 and will begin a new partnership with Australia’s leading local food rescue organisation, OzHarvest.
The new partnership sees OzHarvest become the principal partner for Woolworths to collect and distribute edible food to people who are in need across Australia.
Woolworths will engage their network of farmers, producers, manufacturers, employees and customers to help minimise food waste as well as supporting OzHarvest’s educational campaigns on food waste reduction, such as Think.Eat.Save, an initiative partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
The partnership forms part of a larger commitment by Woolworths to eliminate food waste, which includes seeing edible food waste distributed by a number of organisations like OzHarvest, and other waste used for animal feed, commercial compost and power generation."