Retailer has year-round commitment to maximize recycling initiatives across its business and to help improve efforts at home
Throughout the year, H-E-B is committed to reduce its impact on the environment through waste diversion efforts along with several other initiatives to help conserve and protect our great state, now and for generations to come. This Texas Recycles Day, H-E-B reinforces its commitment to maximize its recycling efforts and shares ways Texans can improve recycling habits at home.
Through Our Texas, Our Future, H-E-B’s mission is to increase awareness and education around sustainability efforts that help preserve land, water, and air in Texas. Regularly recognized for its commitment to environmental sustainability, H-E-B recycled more than 636 million pounds of cardboard, plastics, office paper, food waste, metal, and truck tires in 2021. As part of this practice, H-E-B recycled 54 million pounds of food into animal feed and compost and H-E-B’s Hunger Relief Program donated 34 million pounds of food to families in need last year. H-E-B’s recycling efforts last year saved the equivalent of 11 million trees, 1.6 million barrels of oil, and enough energy to power more than 83,000 homes for an entire year.
In addition to its own initiatives to divert waste, H-E-B also has rolled out a product line, joined a product labeling program, and provides plastic collection bins at all stores to support customers in their sustainability and recycling practices. Last year, H-E-B launched Field & Future by H-E-B, an environmentally minded brand of household, personal care and baby products designed to be clean and green. Many products across the brand are made with recycled or recyclable content, such as Field & Future by H-E-B bath tissue, paper towels, and scour pads. Currently, there are nearly 120 Field & Future by H-E-B products on shelf.
Also in 2021, H-E-B became part of How2Recycle, a program that places clear, easy-to-read labels on products to let customers know if the packaging can be recycled, which parts are recyclable, and importantly, how to prepare material for recycling to reduce contamination. The How2Recycle labels are already on more than 2,300 H-E-B branded items, which include H-E-B, Hill Country Fare, H-E-B Select Ingredients, H-E-B Organics, and Central Market products.
At every store, H-E-B has collection bins where customers can recycle retail shopping bags, produce bags, bread bags, dry cleaning bags, newspaper bags, and plastic wrap. In 2021, H-E-B recycled 17.5 million pounds of plastic throughout its operation, including plastic from its collection bins. H-E-B products such as Field & Future trash bags and bags for recyclables, are made from up to 65 percent and 30 percent post-consumer recycled plastic, respectively, that’s collected from H-E-B stores and facilities.
Furthering its commitment to supporting sustainable efforts within the community, H-E-B works with Keep Texas Recycling to help fund municipal recycling grants to cities and counties that need support launching and improving recycling programs. Most recently, H-E-B gifted $150,000 to support the creation of a community recycling center in Ingleside, which opened this summer and will service several communities near the Gulf Coast town.
“Since the location opened this summer, the facility has received fantastic feedback from area residents excited to have an option to recycle,” said Rachel Hering, Director of Keep Texas Recycling. “The focus of the recycling center is to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill and area residents of San Patricio County are taking full advantage of the program and helping with that effort.”
Beyond the company’s practices, H-E-B Partners (employees) across the state are committed to taking their own steps to protect and beautify Texas. On and following Texas Recycles Day, Partners will volunteer at events throughout the communities H-E-B serves. To celebrate this Texas Recycles Day, H-E-B has partnered with organizations across Texas in ways that provide recycling opportunities and raise awareness.
Furthering its commitment to supporting sustainable efforts within the community, H-E-B works with Keep Texas Recycling to help fund municipal recycling grants to cities and counties that need support launching and improving recycling programs. Most recently, H-E-B gifted $150,000 to support the creation of a community recycling center in Ingleside, which opened this summer and will service several communities near the Gulf Coast town.
“Since the location opened this summer, the facility has received fantastic feedback from area residents excited to have an option to recycle,” said Rachel Hering, Director of Keep Texas Recycling. “The focus of the recycling center is to reduce the amount of waste that goes to the landfill and area residents of San Patricio County are taking full advantage of the program and helping with that effort.”
Beyond the company’s practices, H-E-B Partners (employees) across the state are committed to taking their own steps to protect and beautify Texas. On and following Texas Recycles Day, Partners will volunteer at events throughout the communities H-E-B serves. To celebrate this Texas Recycles Day, H-E-B has partnered with organizations across Texas in ways that provide recycling opportunities and raise awareness.
Among these partnerships are:
Among these partnerships are:
H-E-B and Goodwill will hold a Texas Recycles Day collection at H-E-B’s headquarters in downtown San Antonio
from 7 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Nov. 15.
H-E-B Partners will be on-site to collect items that will be donated to Goodwill San Antonio. Items accepted as part of the collection include clothing, fashion accessories such as purses, shoes, and hats, and household items that include sheets, blankets, books, and toys. Also available for drop-off are plastic bags and plastic film
H-E-B will collect and recycle at its Return Goods Center.
H-E-B is partnering with Unilever to celebrate Texas Recycles Day at Douglass Elementary in San Antonio with a playground build and school recycling awards ceremony.
Volunteers will work on various projects to enhance the playground with equipment made from recycled materials, followed by check presentations to several SAISD schools who are currently participating in a recycling contest. The grand prize winner will receive a check for $10,000, and all schools who participate will receive funding to continue their recycling efforts at their campus.
H-E-B will participate in a Texas Recycles Day event in coordination with City of McAllen Recycling Center.
The public is invited to learn about recycling efforts in the city. The event will take place at 4101 N. Bentsen Rd. in McAllen from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Contamination is still the number one barrier to effective recycling, according to the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling, a nonprofit that works throughout the state to advance recycling through partnerships, education, and advocacy. To limit contamination in residential recycling here are some tips:
Contamination is still the number one barrier to effective recycling, according to the State of Texas Alliance for Recycling, a nonprofit that works throughout the state to advance recycling through partnerships, education, and advocacy. To limit contamination in residential recycling here are some tips:
Throughout the year, H-E-B works to champion sustainability initiatives throughout its own operations and through partnerships with environmental organizations across the Lone Star State. Since 2012, H-E-B has contributed more than $20 million to over 500 environmental organizations in land and water conservation, habitat and coastal preservation, and community cleanups. This includes giving more than $2 million in grants to organizations such as Keep Texas Beautiful, Texas Conservation Fund, and the Nature Conservancy in Texas.
