Buffet server Ismael Vidales empties food scaps into a yellow recycling bucket at the Mirage buffet kitchen Monday, April 12, 2011. The food scaps will go to feed pigs at R.C. Farms in North Las Vegas.
Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011 | 2 a.m.
MGM Resorts International was recently honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for being a leader in food waste recycling.
The company received the EPA’s 2011 WasteWise Gold Achievement Award, which recognizes organizations for environmental sustainability efforts. The award is the third MGM has earned for green programs; it also was honored for excellence in glass and paper recycling.
Last year, the company recycled 8,722 tons of food from Las Vegas hotels. The resort group sends its scraps to R.C. Farms of North Las Vegas to feed 3,000 pigs daily and to Denver-based A1 Organics to be turned into compost.
“With millions of people dining each year at our 165 restaurants and 11 employee dining rooms located on the Las Vegas Strip, MGM Resorts is committed to leading the way to reduce our waste to landfill,” said Cindy Ortega, senior vice president of energy and environmental services.
Food scraps are the second largest waste stream in the United States after paper, according to the EPA. More than 34 million tons of food trash is generated nationally every year, with 33 million tons of it — 97 percent — ending up in landfills and incinerators.
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