U.S. Postal Service “Blue” Gets “Greener”

Stockton Processing and Distribution Center Leading The Way

Stockton, CA — As one of the nation’s leading corporate citizens, the U.S. Postal Service is committed to environmental stewardship. As part of that corporate citizenship, the Stockton Postal Processing and Distribution Center, 3131 Arch Airport Road, has initiated a new recycling program. In addition to reducing cost and generating revenue, the mail processing facility plans to recycle 602 tons of paper this year. That equals to a savings of:

• 6,622 trees
• 1,806 cubic yards of landfill
• 421,400 gallons of water
• 27,872 gallons of oil
• 246,820 kwh of electricity

USPS empowers consumers to “go green” through a comprehensive approach to mail production, delivery and recycling that enhances sustainability, meeting the needs of the present without compromising the future:

• The Postal Service is the only shipping company in the country to achieve Cradle to Cradle certification for the environmental qualities of its Express Mail and Priority Mail boxes and envelopes. Changes made in the production of Express and Priority mail eliminates 15,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually.
• The “Mail Back” pilot program provides postage-paid envelopes to recycle small electronics including PDAs, cell phones and inkjet cartridges.
• USPS is working with OSRAM SYLVANIA and Veolia Environmental Services to recycle compact fluorescent lamps.
• Water-based inks are used to print stamps; and bio-based oil, alternative fuels such as compressed natural gas, hydrogen or ethanol gas, are used on Postal Service vehicles.