Hershey, a US-headquartered chocolate manufacturer, has achieved Zero-Waste-to-Landfill (ZWL) status at two of its facilities in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Robinson, Illinois.
With this development, the company now has six plants in the US that no longer dispose routine waste into landfills, and it exceeded its goal to convert five plants to ZWL by 2015 well ahead of schedule.
As part of the initiative, the company has reduced overall waste streams and increased recycling rates to approximately 90% at the facilities.
The remaining waste is sent to waste-to-energy incinerators, eliminating the need for landfill disposal. The incinerators produce energy thus reducing reducing dependency on fossil fuels.
Hershey senior vice president and chief supply chain officer Terence O'Day said this achievement reflects Hershey's unwavering commitment to reduce its environmental impact while continuing to manufacture the highest quality confections.
"Converting plants to ZWL is challenging, but our plant employees have shown how deeply dedicated they are to environmental stewardship," O'Day added.
The company has eight facilities that achieved ZWL status: Hazleton Plant, Reese Plant, West Hershey Plant, Y&S Plant, Robinson Plant, Stuarts Draft, Hershey's Chocolate World and Eastern Distribution Center III.
