From:  Ellen Rogalin, Clackamas County Department of Transportation & Development, 503-742-4274

08-09-10

The Kroger Clackamas Bakery of Oregon, based in Clackamas, recently received a BRAG (Business Recycling Awards Group) award from the Clackamas County Recycling Partnership for displaying excellence in recycling, waste prevention and sustainable operations.  The award was presented to Clackamas Bakery July 22 by Clackamas County Sustainability Analyst Shannon Martin from the County Office of Strategic Planning and Sustainability.

BRAG memberships go to Clackamas County businesses that recycle all relevant materials regularly, prevent waste with at least three ongoing activities, consistently buy recycled-content products, and demonstrate an on-going commitment to sustainable operations.

Kroger Clackamas Bakery Production Superintendent Kevin Klear attributes the plant's success to “each and every employee that works here.  Our green team worked with Clackamas County to streamline our recycling program, find ways to recycle materials not accepted in the commercial recycling stream and help educate staff with free resources.  Now our plant will be sending material off for energy recovery instead of the landfill.”

Clackamas Bakery’s commitment to sustainability includes installing occupancy lighting, a boiler economizer and boiler de-aeration tank, fractional hp blowers to take the place of compressed air applications, and compressed air, water and steam leak sonic and thermal inspections. The bakery purchases recycled office products and developed a premium efficiency motor standard.

Martin says, “Clackamas Bakery is setting a great standard by proving that reducing waste and recycling is economical, which then helps to promote more sustainable practices.”

The Clackamas County Recycling Partnership is a cooperative of local garbage and recycling companies; the cities of Barlow, Canby, Damascus, Gladstone, Happy Valley, Lake Oswego, Milwaukie, Molalla, Oregon City, Sandy, West Linn and Wilsonville, and Clackamas County.