by Shane Henson — February 22, 2012—If The Hershey Company has its way, it will soon be praised not only for the tasty chocolate it produces but its commitment to sustainability and sound environmental practices as well.
In company with other large U.S.-based corporations such as General Motors, which has nearly 80 landfill-free manufacturing facilities, and Kraft, which has 36, The Hershey Company recently announced that three of its manufacturing facilities in Pennsylvania have achieved “zero-waste-to-landfill” (ZWL) status as a result of the company’s ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability through recycling and waste management. Two of the facilities are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, and the third is in Hazleton, Pennsylvania.
“Zero waste to landfill” means that routine manufacturing waste has been eliminated from landfill disposal, explains the company. The Hazleton plant achieved ZWL status this month, and the West Hershey plant became a ZWL facility in October 2011. In addition, the $200 million to $225 million expansion of the West Hershey facility, announced in June 2010, is a zero-waste-to-landfill construction project, and the new addition will be ZWL upon completion later this year. In 2010, the Reese plant, also located in Hershey, Pennsylvania, achieved ZWL status. These plants reportedly recycle approximately 90% of the waste generated from operations, and the remainder is converted to energy at nearby waste-to-energy incinerators.
The Hershey Company further continues to improve its recycling and energy efficiency programs at all of its U.S. plants. The company has added biogas capturing equipment at four of its U.S. facilities. The equipment captures biogas produced through onsite wastewater treatment and converts it to energy, decreasing the company’s reliance on fossil fuels.
