Recycling is an easy way for each of us to feel good about helping our environment. Harris Teeter has initiated recycling practices that help conserve landfill space, energy, natural resources and hopefully prevent litter.

Cardboard / Mixed Paper - Harris Teeter recycles about 34,000 tons of cardboard and mixed paper each year. Recycling this amount of paper fiber is equal to saving 574,700 trees.

Plastic/Shrink Wrap – Harris Teeter also recycles about 2 million pounds of plastic per year. This plastic is mixed with sawdust to create composite lumber like that used for deck boards.

Motor Oil/Filters - Harris Teeter's fleet recycled 3,693 gallons of oil and 4,946 oil filters last year.

Electronics - Harris Teeter recycles about 12,500 pounds of electronics every year. This includes cash registers, computers and telephones.

Electronic Devices - Did you know that 70% of all heavy metals in a landfill are contributed to electronics? When heavy metals make their way into the soil and water they can cause contamination that is not only bad for the environment but potentially harmful to our associates and customers as well. Now, Harris Teeter is making it easy for customers to recycle old electronic devices, keep them out of the landfill, and earn money. Click here for more information about our electronics recycling program.

Paper Bags - All Harris Teeter paper grocery bags are produced from 100% post-consumer recycled paper and are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. By upgrading our paper bag from 35% recycled paper in 2007 to 100% recycled product we estimate we are able to save 22,293 trees a year.

Reusable Bags – Harris Teeter also offers a variety of reusable shopping bags. These bags can be used every time you shop. Harris Teeter is committed to protecting the planet through the use of efficient products and practices in-store. Each reusable bag can replace over 1,000 plastic bags during it's lifetime.

Packaging - Harris Teeter has incorporated a variety of degradable product packages. We will continue to incorporate sustainable and environmentally conscientious packaging.

Shopping Baskets - Harris Teeter's shopping baskets are made from 100% recycled plastic.

Shipping - Harris Teeter uses reusable plastic pallets when shipping products to stores. We also reuse all general merchandise and health and beauty plastic totes and milk crates from Hunter dairy.

Shopper Program - Recycling containers can be found in the foyer of all Harris Teeter stores. These bins provide shoppers an easy way to recycle both paper and plastic bags. All they need to do is drop them in the container the next time they go shopping and we take care of the rest. In addition to recycling your plastic grocery bags, you can also recycle dry cleaning film, bread bags, produce bags, paper towel and toilet tissue wrap, newspaper bags, etc. Any lightweight plastic film is acceptable. In North Carolina, we have implemented bottle and can recycling as well.

Product choice - Harris Teeter offers over 150 private label and over 500 national brand natural and organic options for shoppers to choose from. In addition we also offer environmentally conscious non-food products identified with the 'My Earth' shelf tag, including:

• • Harris Teeter Naturals PLA-based disposable cup that is fully biodegradable
  • Harris Teeter Naturals trash bags made from recycled plastics
  • Green Forest and Seventh Generation paper products which are made from non-blended recycled material
  • Sun & Earth, Clorox Greenworks, Mrs. Meyer's and Method detergents and cleaning products, which are made with natural ingredients and are biodegradable
  • Soy candles
  • Natural Hardwood charcoal
  • Wheat-based cat litter
  • Compact flourescent light bulbs
  • Rechargeable batteries