Context & Challenge:

A multinational manufacturer of prepared fresh produce reached out to IMPACT Recycling Partners with a particular challenge: in order for the company to meet its internal food safety parameters, it must measure the temperature of packaged fresh produce as it passes through its facilities before being sent to grocery stores. If the incoming food does not meet a certain temperature threshold, it is pulled from the line and must be destroyed so it does not accidentally get consumed. The company is passionate about food safety but also does not want to send this nutrient-rich food to the landfill.

Response:

IMPACT de-packaged, or separated, the fresh produce from the plastic packaging on 94 truckloads over the last year.

Solution:

IMPACT diverted 1,100 tons of waste (900 tons of which was organics and 200 tons of packaging) that would have otherwise been sent to landfills, and instead recycled the plastic packaging and composted the food waste, creating a new use for the plastic and nutrient-rich soil for growing crops.