Hershey Achieves Zero Waste to Landfill at 3 Plants

The Hershey Co. said three of its manufacturing facilities have achieved zero waste-to-landfill status.

The Hershey, Pa.-based candy retailer said in a news release that two plants In Hershey and another in Hazelton, Pa., recycle about 90 percent of operational waste generated. The remainder of the waste goes to nearby Pennsylvania waste-to-energy incinerators in Bainbridge and Harrisburg.

"We achieved ZWL [zero waste to landfill] at these facilities through a rigorous process of eliminating waste, recycling and converting waste to energy,” said Terence O'Day, senior vice president of global operations for Hershey.

The company's Hazleton plant achieved ZWL status this month. Its West Hershey plant became a ZWL facility in October 2011. In addition, an ongoing $200 million to $225 million expansion of the facility is a ZWL project. The company’s Reese plant, located in Hershey, achieved ZWL status in 2010.

Hershey said it aims to continue improving its recycling and energy efficiency programs at all of its U.S. facilities.