Kroger to Donate to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The Kroger Co.'s Central Division has pledged a multi-year commitment to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc., funded in part from an extensive customer recycling program. recycle electronic scrap, excluding televisions or monitors. Items such as stereos, computer towers, gaming systems, cell phones and power supplies are welcomed.

This new initiative will reinforce Kroger's existing programs, including a plastic recycling program called "Bag2Bag" that collects plastic bags, shrink wrap and dry cleaning plastic in barrels placed at the entrances of every Kroger store; Kroger's reusable bag program called "Choose to Reuse;" and a paper recycling program supporting AbiBow Recycling LLC's Paper Retriever bins.

Kroger has a baler in each store for corrugated generated by internal store operations. That recycling program will continue separately.

Community Recycling containers have been in place at two Kroger locations in Indianapolis and Greenwood, Ind., nearly two months. Both customers and associates have praised the program and the containers have collected a significant amount of material for recycling, the company said in a statement.

Additional containers will be placed at central Indiana Kroger locations about six at a time until all available stores are included. Kroger-owned stores will receive containers first; leased store locations will be added as landlords give permission for the program.

Income from the Community Recycling containers at Indianapolis locations will go to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful Inc. Outside Marion County, income from the containers will go to the Indiana Recycling Coalition. This is the same income arrangement Kroger established for AbiBow's Paper Retriever containers.

The Kroger Central Division has 148 food stores, 123 pharmacies and 64 fuel centers operating under the Kroger, Scott's, Owen's, Hilander and Pay Less banners. Most are in Indiana and Illinois, with some in Missouri, Michigan and Ohio. Kroger Central Division contributed more than $13.3 million in 2010 to local organizations, primarily focusing on hunger relief, K-12 education, health causes and diversity.