HARTSVILLE, S.C. - Sonoco Recycling, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco and one of the largest packaging recyclers in North America, today announced it has recognized Saputo Cheese USA Inc.'s Tulare, California, facility with a bronze-tier Sonoco Sustainability Star Award for diverting significant amounts of waste from landfill.

Clifton Young, plant manager, Tulare facility, said, "As one of the top 10 dairy processors in the world, it was important that we evaluate Food Safety & Best Practices around the new recycling program. The team accomplished these goals through organized committees, JSAs, and employee and management interaction and training."

Rodger Fuller, president, Sonoco Recycling, said, "Recycling at foodservice facilities is notoriously difficult. The Tulare facility team has consistently diverted more than 90 percent of their waste throughout 2014 while still maintaining food safety best practices. We are very pleased to present them with this much-deserved Bronze Sustainability Star Award."

Created to recognize customer and Sonoco facilities for achieving significant milestones in landfill diversion and waste stream reduction, the Sustainability Star Award program is composed of three tiers:

• Gold Star Awards, which recognize facilities that have achieved at least 99 percent landfill diversion;
• Silver Star Recognition, which is awarded to facilities achieving 95 percent landfill diversion; and
• Bronze Awards, recognizing facilities and programs that have made significant waste reduction achievements.

Learn more about the Sonoco Sustainability Star Award program at http://sonocorecycling.com/aboutus/ourprocess/sustainabilitystarawards.aspx.

A recycling leader with locations and expertise worldwide, Sonoco Recycling annually collects more than 3 million tons of old corrugated containers, various grades of paper, metals and plastics. In addition, the Company has experts who provide secure, reliable and innovative recycling solutions to residential and commercial customers.

Currently, Sonoco Recycling operates six material recovery facilities (MRFs) and serves nearly 150 communities in which curbside-collected residential and commercial materials are processed. The Company also provides recycling programs that identify waste reduction opportunities that reduce operating expenses for many of the largest consumer product companies in the U.S.