Kodak, Wal-Mart to Recycle Materials From Photo Kiosks

ROCHESTER, — Kodak and Wal-Mart aim to recycle two million pounds of waste annually with a drive to recycle used materials from in-store photo kiosks.

The program is starting at 4,100 Wal-Mart and Sam's Club stores and will prevent thermal printer ribbon, spools and cartridges, all mostly made of recyclable plastic, from reaching landfills. Kodak is also reducing the amount of bubble wrap used in packaging the materials, cutting the weight and size of packages.

The partnership was inspired by initiatives on both companies' parts. Wal-Mart aims to eventually be zero waste and one of Kodak's Responsible Growth principles is to reduce the environmental impact of its products.

Each store will collect the recyclable materials and send them to Wal-Mart centers where they will be separated and processed for reuse.

Wal-Mart's company-wide zero waste goal is one of many green initiatives it has announced in the last two years, including planning to be powered by renewable energy and working with suppliers to reduce the impact from packaging.