Expired P2E2 Roundtable: Tour of Walmart Distribution Center – Aug. 20, 2015

Pollution Prevention and Energy Efficiency (P2E2) Roundtable Meeting at Walmart Distribution Center, Tobyhanna, Monroe County.

On August 20th the Pennsylvania Association of Environmental Professionals (PAEP) P2E2 Roundtable held its quarterly meeting at the Walmart distribution center in Monroe County. The topic focused on the robust sustainability practices including recycling and energy efficiency of the world’s largest retailer. The company provided a presentation and on-site tour where they explained that over 90% of the waste generated within the facility is recycled.

Walmart has “sustainability stations” strategically placed throughout the building. The company has over 17 miles of automated conveyors that ship over 300,000 cases of freight each day to Walmart stores in four states. The site consists of a 200 acre campus that includes the main distribution center building, which encompasses 1,250,000 square feet of floor space (30 acres under roof). Also housed on the campus is a truck maintenance garage, pump house, waste water treatment plant, and parking for over 2000 trailers.

New members of the Roundtable were welcomed and two have asked to join the Steering Committee. The new members asked many questions to Walmart’s senior management team. More information on Walmart’s sustainability program that focuses on energy, waste, and sustainable products can be found here.