The Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (Authority) is pleased to announce that Smith Packing Company, Inc. (Smith Packing) located at 105-125 Washington Street in Utica, has obtained the Authority’s RecycleOne Business Certification.
The RecycleOne Business Certification requires an on-site review from Authority staff to verify that specific solid waste management, recycling and energy reduction criteria have been achieved. If the criteria have been achieved, the Authority will issue the facility or business an official RecycleOne Business Certification.
This certification is free and available to all businesses located in Oneida and Herkimer counties. Accepted businesses will receive RecycleOne logos, posters, and relevant recycling information. RecycleOne Businesses are featured on the Authority’s website and will be eligible to win the Authority’s annual Recycling Champion Award.
Smith Packing is a custom meat processing, food manufacturing & distribution company that has been family owned and operated since 1911. Smith Packing manufactures and distributes items such as poultry, beef, pork, eggs, frozen foods, produce, desserts, canned goods and non-food items to restaurants, grade schools, colleges, grocery stores and individual customers.
The 35 employees at Smith Packing work daily to reduce waste and recycle in the following ways:
- Consistent recycling of 12 cubic yards of cardboard per week
- Reusing and recycling of all wooden pallets used to deliver/receive orders
- Donating excess high-quality meat and other food in order to eliminate food waste
- Distributing biodegradable cups, plates and straws
- Recycling of all grease, fats, and oils through a rendering company
“We try to be as proactive about our waste as possible. We recycle items in house, carefully prepare shipments to reduce packaging waste and order items carefully to cut down on waste from the start,” says David Baker, Operations Manager at Smith Packing. “Becoming a member of the RecycleOne Business Program will help us to strengthen and even expand the recycling program we have now, and we are excited about that,” he continued.
“Smith Packing is a company with global reach, but they consistently make a positive impact on the local community by donating food, recycling and reducing the waste sent to our Regional Landfill. Smith Packing is doing an excellent job with their recycling program, and we are happy to see them join the RecycleOne Business team,” says Emily Albright, Authority Director of Recycling.
Recycling in the workplace not only helps the environment, but can be economically advantageous by allowing for lower costs for waste removal and possible revenues from recycling. The program also encourages social responsibility, positive public response and sustainability.
For more information on the Authority’s RecycleOne Business Certification Program, or to get YOUR business certified, please contact Emily Albright, Director of Recycling, at (315) 733-1224 ext. 1600 or visit www.RecycleOneBusiness.com to download the Business Recycling Program Guide.