The Kroger Co., along with its Ralphs and Food 4 Less banners, will celebrate on Wednesday the opening of its clean energy production facility that will convert food that cannot be sold or donated into clean energy to help power its Compton, Calif., distribution center while reducing waste. A ceremony to mark the event will begin at 10 a.m. (PT) at the distribution center located at 1100 W. Artesia Blvd.
The ceremony will include a visual tour of the multi-stage energy recovery system and remarks from Los Angeles Business Council President Mary Leslie and local elected officials.
The Kroger Recovery System uses anaerobic digestion, a naturally occurring process, to transform unsold organics and onsite food-processing effluent into renewable biogas. This biogas is then turned into power for onsite operations. The process is carried out in an enclosed, oxygen-free environment—meaning the process takes up less space and generates no odors. The system will provide enough renewable biogas to offset more than 20 percent of the energy demand of the Ralphs/Food 4 Less distribution center. Other environmental benefits include reduced diesel truck trips by 500,000 miles per year; recycling of seven million pounds of cardboard, plastic and metal; reduction of 134 tons of waste per day; and generating enough renewable energy to power more than 8,000 homes per year.
