Local Wal-Mart working to grow greener

Written by Katie Weidenboerner

The greening of corporations is a new phenomena, and Wal-Mart has been working to become one of the leaders.

At the Elk County Solid Waste Authority meeting Tuesday evening, Wal-Mart's desire to become a greener company through recycling and other programs was discussed.

According to the Associated Press, Wal-Mart has been moving since 2005 into the field it calls sustainability, which involves offering more products like organic food and compact fluorescent light bulbs that use less power than traditional bulbs.

The company has also set targets for reducing energy use and waste at its roughly 4,000 U.S. stores. In Sept. 2006, Wal-Mart reported on its "greenhouse gases" contribution, saying it emits 20.8 million tons worldwide, this is said to be an amount greater than what's released by an auto company.

At the Elk County Solid Waste Authority meeting Tuesday evening, new business was presented by Elk County Recycling Coordinator Bekki Titchner about the Fox Township Wal-Mart's desire to grow greener.

A call was received from Wal-Mart asking the County to provide a drop-off for their customers so they have the ability to recycle.

"I told the individual that the authority would have to discuss it; that funding was tight and we're treading lightly on making any new decisions about funding," Titchner said. "At this point, maybe we could say to Wal-Mart, "will you maintain the containers," and "will you enter into an agreement with us to offset the cost of servicing the container." Then they would be picking up the cost, and we would be providing the container."

If Wal-Mart would be responsible for the maintenance and servicing of the container, Titchner thinks contamination might not be as much of a problem.

The kind of recyclables which could possibly be taken to the site was unknown, as Titchner only met with representatives of the Fox Township Wal-Mart briefly.

Wal-Mart.com, lays out the company's goals and targets for sustainability. These goals include to be supplied 100 percent by renewable energy by making existing stores 25 percent more efficient in seven years, and new stores 30 percent more efficient in four years.

The company is also striving to create zero waste by having a 25 percent reduction in solid waster over three years, and all private brand packaging improved in two years.

As previously mentioned, the store also will attempt to sell products that sustain our resources and environment by having a 20 percent supply base aligned in three years, and to design and support the Green Company Program in China.

"They want to do complete in-house recycling. They are looking for zero waste," Titchner said. "They want to start composting, and they are looking for alternative forms of energy like windmills. I guess this is a corporate-wide program, and they're pretty enthusiastic about this happening."

Titchner and Solid Waste Consultant Michele Nestor are currently planning to meet with representatives of Wal-Mart next week to get a tour of the facility and to discuss their goals.

"If somehow we can partner with them, it is a win-win situation. As long as we aren't putting buckets of money into anything, because we can't afford to do that, it could be a great program for us," Titchner said. "I'm leaving all options open at this point. I'm hoping that this can be something positive."

Titchner said the corporation's local branch offered to help at the electronics recycling site and illegal dump clean-ups.

"They're talking and saying, "we need to be more involved in the community and be better environmentalists." I say, cool! We have lots of projects for them to do," Titchner said.

The next meeting of the Solid Waste Authority will be held June 26 at 4:30 p.m. in the Ridgway Courthouse Annex.

 

 

Written by Katie Weidenboerner    T