The Frito Lay Distribution Center in Federal Way will earn the City of Federal Way’s first annual Leadership in Recycling Award for its commitment to sustainability.

The award will be presented at 7 p.m. on Jan. 19 at a City Council Meeting at City Hall, 33325 8th Ave S.

The City developed the Leadership in Recycling Award to recognize local businesses that work to increase recycling, reduce the generation of waste and employ other sustainable practices.

Frito Lay Inc. is a global snack food supplier. The Federal Way location ships more than 50,000 cases of product each week and every case is returned for re-use.

The cases are re-used up to 10 times before being recycled. This removes more than 75,000 lbs of cardboard per week from the waste stream.

Frito Lay’s Federal Way location also employs the following green practices:

• Recycles all plastic bottles, aluminum cans and office paper.

• Composts paper towels, coffee filters and all food-contaminated paper.

• Uses motion-sensor-lights and state-of-the-art efficiency lighting to conserve energy.

• Uses rain sensors that reduce irrigation system use.

Frito Lay's Pacific Northwest Region held a 2009 Earth Day event where more than 1,400 employees from 16 locations participated. More than 100 employees from the Federal Way distribution center participated.

“Frito Lay has been very innovative in increasing both the amount and the range of materials they recycle,” said Jeanette Brizendine, the City’s Recycling Manager. “That’s just one small piece of their company-wide program. For their efforts we now have a healthier community, a healthier environment, and even a healthier bottom line for the company.”

For more information about the City’s recycling program, please visit www.cityoffederalway.com/recycling.