The California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB) recently named Save Mart Supermarkets an honoree of the 2009 Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) for its efforts in waste reduction and sustainability.

Now in its 16th year, WRAP has honored Save Mart Supermarkets and its stores — Save Mart, S-Mart Foods, Lucky and FoodMaxx — every year since 2000. “Our continuing efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle have once again been recognized by the state of California,” said Steve Gaines, senior director for retail efficiencies at Save Mart. “We actually close the loop by composting our organic waste, which we package and sell at our stores and donate for use in state, local and neighborhood landscape improvement projects.”

According to the CIWMB, 263 California businesses and nonprofit organizations were recognized for their innovative, environmentally friendly programs and policies. The 2009 honorees collectively diverted more than 2 million tons of materials from local landfills through aggressive resource management, recycling and waste reduction.

The WRAP awards were initiated in 1993 to recognize California businesses and private, nonprofit organizations that are making outstanding efforts to reduce nonhazardous waste. The CIWMB has now honored nearly 18,000 businesses and nonprofits.

Modesto, Calif.-based Save Mart owns and operates more than 240 stores in northern California and northern Nevada.