Opportunity McDonald’s Netherlands sought to reuse and recycle
a large percentage of the waste coming from its restaurants.
Solution In 1992, McDonald’s Netherlands started its own
recycling system. Currently, paper and cardboard, plastics, food
remains, vegetable frying oil and minor chemical waste are
separated and recycled. The employees separate the waste in
the restaurants, and the waste is collected once a week by the
company’s own Green Trucks. The complete process is being
tracked and monitored by an independent organization.
Results In 1992, McDonald’s Netherlands was one of the first
Dutch companies to practice the “reduce, reuse and recycle”
waste system on a large scale. Currently, the McDonald’s
Netherlands reuses and recycles more than 98 percent of the waste
the restaurants produce.
All of McDonald’s Netherlands’ waste is recycled or recovered.
Paper and cardboard are processed into napkins and placemats.
Cooking oil is used as material for biodiesel. Food waste is used to
make biogas. Green electricity can be generated from this biogas.
Plastic is processed into garbage bags and roadside poles. Fuel
granules are created from the remaining residual waste.
The system is continually optimized and reflects positively
on McDonald’s Netherland’s sustainability efforts. In 2009,
the Dutch system was also implemented in Belgium.