Aldi Recycling Case Study

DS Smith worked with Aldi in reaching its zero waste commitment by concentrating on food waste.

The Challenge

Retail chain Aldi has a zero waste to landfill commitment and was looking for a recycling specialist who could help it meet its ambitious goals.

The Solution

DS Smith worked with Aldi in reaching its zero waste commitment by concentrating on recycling food waste. This is backhauled from all circa 500 Aldi stores, using a dolav collection system, namely a series of reusable solid pallet boxes with lids. The food waste is taken to seven distribution centres and onto a network of local AD and biomass energy plants. Once the food waste reaches an AD facility all traces of plastic, glass and metal packaging are removed from the food waste before undergoing the process which results in a biogas used to generate electricity.

DS Smith has also helped Aldi manage other materials including cardboard, plastic, paper and packaging for the last two years and Aldi currently recycles over 51,000 tonnes. 

The Benefits for Aldi

The amount of food waste diverted from landfill has helped saved Aldi over 30% of its waste costs. This has produced 5400MW which is sent back to the National Grid as green energy. 

As a result Aldi now recycles or diverts 98% of its waste from landfill and is well ahead of it’s target make this 100% by 2015.

Quote from Aldi Spokesperson

“Our aim is always to minimise food waste. Where waste does occur our objective is to dispose of it in the most corporately responsible manner. AD now plays an important part within our corporate responsibility plan at the same time offering a cost-efficient solution to dealing with food waste. Part of Aldi’s corporate responsibility is to increase recycling processes and reduce waste, with a goal to send zero waste to landfill. Working so closely with DS Smith will help us to achieve these aims.”