Smithfield Foods Marks Significant Step Toward Zero-Waste-to-Landfill in North Carolina
SMITHFIELD, Va., October 23, 2018 /3BL Media/ — Smithfield Foods, Inc. is pleased to announce a key step toward achieving zero-waste-to-landfill status across its North Carolina processing facilities. Smithfield will achieve this goal with support from its newest partner, Waste Connections, in a first-of-its-kind collaboration between a food company and waste services provider. The project will create a recycling facility that processes materials specifically from food production facilities. This project is part of Smithfield’s companywide sustainability initiative to reduce solid waste to landfills 10 percent by 2020 across all locations and its goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 25 percent by 2025 throughout its supply chain.
“At Smithfield, we are the first major protein company to make a significant GHG reduction commitment and are forging innovative new partnerships to help us get there,” said Stewart Leeth, vice president of regulatory affairs and chief sustainability officer for Smithfield Foods. “This project is especially exciting because our employees are banding together across facilities in North Carolina, working as a team to make meaningful progress toward our sustainability goals in the state. From zero-waste-to-landfill to GHG reductions, they are making sure we continue to lead our industry.”
Waste Connections, a third-party integrated waste services company that provides waste collection, transfer, disposal, and recycling services of solid waste, will increase Smithfield’s savings in rebate value of recycled materials through its specialized recycling facility in Clinton, North Carolina. Waste Connections’ investment in the recycling facility will play a major role in assisting Smithfield’s Tar Heel, Clinton, Wilson, and Kinston locations in reaching their environmental target of eliminating waste to landfills.
“We are proud to partner with a company recognized for its industry leadership in sustainability,” said David Hall, senior vice president of sales and marketing for Waste Connections. “Smithfield’s companywide stewardship allows for great strides to be made to benefit the environment, and we are looking forward to assisting its North Carolina facilities in achieving their zero-waste-to-landfill goal in the near future.”
To learn more about Smithfield and its sustainability efforts, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus®, and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
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Contact:
Lisa Martin
Smithfield Foods, Inc.
(757) 365-1980
