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US recycler of organic materials Denali has announced a collaboration with Walmart to roll out depackaging services.

The technology improves the food waste recycling process and could be deployed at more than 1,000 Walmart and Sam's Club locations across the country.

The depackaging technology aims to help drive operational efficiencies, and based on early testing, has increased the volume of potentially reusable organic content recovered from participating Walmart and Sam's Club locations by more than 60% and reduced compactor trash by an estimated 12%.

Denali's network of depackaging facilities can separate up to 97% of all trash from organic food waste, including expired food products, recalled items, food scraps and spoiled deli, bakery and produce. Additionally, the services can process other food categories including animal products and dry and liquid goods.

The programme has launched in over 1,400 Walmart and Sam's Club locations in more than 16 markets across the US including Houston, Dallas, Philadelphia, Washington DC, Indianapolis, Phoenix and cities across New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut – with rollout to continue nationwide into 2025.

The technology separates food from its packaging materials – such as plastic and cardboard – producing a cleaner stream of organic material that can be turned into animal feed, compost or converted into energy with anaerobic digesters.

The depackaging services help to avoid the process of manually separating food from its packaging – making it easier to recycle and reuse food waste while freeing up time for retailers.

Walmart is one of the first retailers to leverage the newly implemented depackaging capabilities at scale. This initiative supports the company’s sustainability objectives and pursuit of operational waste reduction, improving the effectiveness and efficiency of Walmart’s waste management practices.

RJ Zanes, Walmart's VP of facility services, said: “As a people-led, tech-powered retailer, Walmart is focused on driving innovations that build operational efficiency, improve store associates’ experience and help reduce waste. Denali’s depackaging technology can help enable us to turn millions of pounds of potential food waste into useful products each year while allowing our associates to devote more time serving our customers.”

Denali’s chief revenue officer Ilia Kostov added: “Denali’s depackaging technology is revolutionising the way in which food manufacturers, distributors, retailers – and the cities in which they operate – can reduce food waste. We are proud to work with the leading retailers Walmart and Sam’s Club to help reduce food waste at scale while simultaneously enabling the circular economy.”

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