Editor’s note: The writer is responding to a letter in Tuesday’s Post, “What happens to plastic bags ‘recycled’ at stores?”

We are excited about the opportunity to respond to you and our customers about how they are helping Food Lion save the environment by donating plastic bags in receptacles in front of our stores.

First, I want you to know that we encourage our customers to use this service as an environmentally friendly option for them. We can assure you that once a customer donates plastic bags, we then will add any necessary plastics we have in-store to recycle as well before they are picked up by a local vendor. The vendor then transforms the plastics into environmentally responsible outdoor products, which may be an even more exciting story for you.

In 2017 alone, our customers helped us to recycle more than 4,000 tons of plastic.

— Benny L. Smith

Salisbury

Smith is manager of media and community relations for Food Lion.