Cutline: Waste Management Opens The Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility, Which Accepts Pre-consumer Organic Waste From 42 Publix Super Markets In South Florida, On America Recycles Day, November 15th. Photo Credit: Steven Martine

In honor of America Recycles Day, Waste Management (NYSE:WM) and Publix today celebrated the opening of the Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility – the most advanced aerated composting technology to process food residuals in South Florida.

Cutline: Waste Management opens the Okeechobee Organics Recycling Facility, which accepts pre-consumer organic waste from 42 Publix super markets in South Florida, on America Recycles Day, November 15th. Photo credit: Steven Martine

The eight-acre facility, located adjacent to Waste Management’s Okeechobee Landfill, utilizes a forced aeration system with computer controls to regulate airflow and air treatment to process pre-consumer food waste from Publix stores -- including produce, bakery and floral items -- with yard waste into organic compost products.

“As the nation’s largest environmental solutions provider, our customers are asking us to help them meet their sustainability goals,” said Tim Hawkins, area vice president for Waste Management. “We’re very pleased to partner with Publix on the first dedicated organics composting site in South Florida to serve their needs.”

Waste Management trucks are collecting and transporting the organic material from 40 Publix stores in Miami-Dade County and two Publix GreenWise Markets in Palm Beach County in the first phase of the program. Over the coming months, Publix plans to add additional stores in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to the program.

"Publix commends Waste Management on moving the industry forward with the opening of their Organics Recycling Facility in Okeechobee," said Kim Jaeger, Publix's Miami media and community relations manager. "Our partnership with Waste Management presents an opportunity in fulfilling our mission to be intolerant of waste by diverting food waste that would typically be sent to local landfills. Publix's continued success depends upon sustaining our environment, our community and our business."