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Green Era and Mariano's Team to Make Giant Dent in Food Waste
- Bob Benenson
- Apr 30
- 4 min read
Updated: May 1
Grocery Chain Converted 1 Million Pounds of Waste to Compost and Energy
It boggles the mind that, by many estimates, about 40 percent of all food produced in the United States goes to waste. Much of this wasted food goes into landfills, where it produces greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change as it decomposes.
Most of us can do better about reducing food waste at home, but grocery stores and restaurants/foodservice operations also generate huge amounts of waste. So it's a pleasure to share that Mariano's — a grocery chain that is concentrated in the Chicago region — has taken an industry leadership role in reducing food waste.
Mariano's is partnering with Green Era Campus, an adjunct of the Urban Growers Collective non-profit urban farming operation. Green Era operates an anaerobic digester than converts tons of food waste into compost (the soil supplement highly valued by farmers and gardeners) and natural gas that goes directly into the pipelines of a local energy company.
As you will read in the following news release, Green Era recently announced that Mariano's had reached 1 million pounds of food waste diverted to Green Era's processing facility on Chicago's South Side.
This achievement was celebrated on April 25, at Green Era's official ribbon cutting ceremony, by Green Era Founder Erika Allen (who is also founder/executive director of Urban Growers Collective), Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other political and civic leaders.
Photos from the big event, shared by Mariano's, follow the text of the press release.
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Green Era Announces Mariano’s Has Diverted 1 Million Pounds of Food Waste into Renewable Energy and Compost
A purposeful partnership generating renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost to support local food production
Green Era Campus and Mariano’s are celebrating 1 million pounds of food waste recycled into renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost. The partnership began in 2023 at the Mariano’s Evergreen Park location and eventually expanded to the Oak Lawn location as well.
As part of Mariano’s zero waste initiative, the partnership has been so impactful that the supermarket chain will now include 8 additional stores in the program (West Loop, South Loop, Bridgeport, Edgewater, Ukrainian Village, New City and Lakeshore East) resulting in a total of 10 Illinois stores working toward a more sustainable future.
Operationally, Mariano’s has taken several steps in stores to minimize waste, including markdown programs and donating to local food pantries like the Greater Chicago Food Depository and Northern Illinois food banks.
Now, food items that are unsold or designated as inedible or waste go into the Green Era Campus anaerobic digester to avoid being sent to a landfill, where they are recycled into renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost that supports local food production and green spaces. Green Era also accepts packaged food waste for recycling, enabling a wider range of materials to be diverted from landfill and repurposed sustainability.
“There is no waste here; we are recirculating the energy. For a grocery store chain to be shifting this waste to renewable energy is huge, and we are so proud to have Green Era be a part of it,” said Erika Allen, CEO of Urban Growers Collective and Co-Founder of Green Era Campus.
The impact of 1 million pounds is profound:
● 1M pounds of food waste diverted is enough to fill 30 large dump trucks end to end.
● 1M pounds of food waste diverted mitigates over a million pounds of carbon emissions, the same as taking 116 cars off of the road for an entire year.
● 1M pounds of food waste diverted generates almost a thousand MMBTus of renewable natural gas, enough to power 270 homes for a month.
● 1M pounds of food waste diverted creates 30,000 pounds of clean compost, or enough to grow up to 50 tons of fresh veggies—the same weight as the food that was originally diverted.
“We are fully committed to our zero-waste initiative, and we are thrilled to have many of our locations in proximity to the first of its kind campus focused around a food waste anaerobic digester,” said Michael Marx, Division President of Mariano’s. “Generating renewable energy and nutrient-rich compost to grow more food is just one example of how Mariano’s is forging ahead as an industry leader.”
“Mariano’s has been a true innovator in organics recycling and sustainability, showing that packaged food waste can be diverted easily, affordably, and responsibly. Together, we’re transforming food waste into renewable energy, nutrient-rich compost, and fresh food—advancing environmental stewardship while supporting smart, streamlined business operations. It’s a win for both the planet and the bottom line,” said Jason Feldman, CEO of Green Era.
Green Era encourages companies and individuals to take a closer look at what they’re discarding. By participating in food waste recycling, you can lower costs, reduce your carbon footprint, and divert waste from landfills. Reach out to Green Era to learn how your organization can be part of the solution.
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About Green Era Campus Green Era Campus is a pioneering initiative dedicated to creating sustainable communities through innovative urban development practices. Located on Chicago’s South Side, Green Era Campus aims to transform vacant brownfields into vibrant hubs of renewable energy, economic empowerment, urban agriculture and environmental stewardship. By recycling packaged food waste into nutrient-rich compost and renewable energy, and by leveraging technology and community engagement, Green Era Campus is setting the model for sustainable urban development in the 21st century.
About Mariano's: Mariano’s, the Midwest’s most exciting food destination, is one of three grocery banners of Roundy’s Supermarkets, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR). With 44 locations across the Chicagoland area, Mariano’s places a premium on the customer experience, offering a highly differentiated food shopping experience combined with exceptional customer service. Mariano’s incorporates Chicagoland’s distinctive neighborhood culture into its signature grocery merchandising, allowing customers to enjoy a truly unique foodie experience.
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Photos from the April 25 ribbon-cutting event (provided by Mariano's)
The Green Era facility has been open for several months, but the high-profile event provided the setting for an official ribbon cutting. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is in the center, next to Erika Allen, founder of the Green Era Campus and founder/executive director of the Urban Growers Collective non-profit.
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