June 14, 2012 - Collection of organic waste at Metro and Super C - Composting instead of throwing away    

Montreal, June 14, 2012 - Metro is announcing that 22 of its Metro and Super C stores will take part in a pilot project involving the collection of their compostable organic waste. During the next six months, an average of 760 kg of waste per store will be steered away from waste disposal sites each week and instead will be sent to compost sites.

This project is one of several initiatives that will enable Metro to reach its goal of reducing waste disposal by 25% by 2016, as stated in its Corporate Responsibility Report published last April. By avoiding waste disposal sites, organic waste, which represents approximately 30% of supermarket waste, will result in a decrease in total CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions of about 740,000 kg for participating stores during the entire length of the project. That’s like taking 185 cars off the road for one year.

Once a week, produce that can’t be sold, processing waste from sliced fruit or prepared meals, as well as unsold bakery products that have accumulated during the week will be sent to compost sites located in Montreal and in Quebec City. Sanimax, a Quebec company, is the partner selected for the collection and transportation of organic waste from participating supermarkets.

The project is also part of Québec Residual Materials Management Policy 2011-2015, which has a goal of recycling 60% of putrescible organic waste by 2015. We should point out that this type of material will be banned from waste disposal sites by 2020.

“Respect for the Environment is one of the four pillars of our Corporate Responsibility approach. This project goes along with Metro’s other initiatives intended to manage our waste more effectively. The results of the pilot project will allow us to assess if we can expand the project on a larger scale in our network” said Marie-Claude Bacon, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs Department, Metro Inc.

Metro continues its efforts to go beyond its role as a distributor and become a key player in sustainable development by striving over the last several years to minimize the impact of its activities. Metro’s CR approach structures the company’s programs and actions in order to link them to the business strategy. As a leader in the area of food and pharmaceutical distribution in Canada, Metro has a responsibility to contribute to initiating better practices that will lead the way toward commercial activities that are in harmony with today’s society.

The Corporate Responsibility Report is available online

Metro Inc.
With annual sales of over $11 billion and over 65,000 employees, Metro Inc. is a leader in the food and pharmaceutical sectors in Québec and Ontario, where it operates a network of more than 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 drugstores under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.
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Information

Geneviève Grégoire
​Communication Advisor​
genevieve.gregoire@metro.ca
514 643-1000 ext. 2055
 

Participating Metro and Super C stores