In 2006, La Tienda Grocery, Safeway Bakery and Aronson-Campbell Industrial Supply recycled more than any other companies of equivalent size.  La Tienda recycled nearly 90 percent of its waste last year, winning the recycling title for small businesses for the second year in a row.

Allied Waste and the city established recycling awards in 2005 as a way to promote the new commingled recycling program, which allows collection of unsorted materials.  Each of the winning companies receives a free month of garbage service.

La Tienda, at 1506 145th Pl. SE, carries products from Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador, Peru and Columbia, and serves a diverse customer base. To keep 87 percent of the company’s waste out of the landfill, owner Antonio Garcia recycles as much packaging as possible, including a large amount of cardboard.

The Safeway Bakery, which provides bread and rolls to Safeway stores throughout Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska and parts of Oregon, is the winner in the medium-size category, recycling 80 percent of its waste in 2006.  Plant Manager Paul Jhooty credits his 100 employees for being extremely conscientious about recycling cardboard, office paper, plastic and metal.  The bakery even sends unused dough to farms for hog feed.

Aronson-Campbell is the winner in the large business category, with a recycling rate of 76 percent. Founded in 1890, the company distributes industrial supply products to manufacturers.

Office paper is collected in desk side recycling containers and large amounts of cardboard are recycled from deliveries to the warehouse, said Bruce Buchberger, owner and president of Aronson-Campbell. The company reuses many cardboard boxes.  Unusable packaging materials such as banding and plastic foam are nearly the only items thrown away.

In Bellevue’s program, businesses can recycle at no additional charge.  All recyclables, including cardboard, mixed paper, newspaper, aluminum cans, plastic containers and glass go into the same container. Call the city at 425-452-6932 if you would like assistance in setting up recycling or improving the recycling program at your business.

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