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Environment

Water Recycling

Hilmar Cheese Company reduces, reuses and recycles a variety of resources, including water. Recycled water accounts for more than 60 percent of the water used at our facility. We also treat our process water to produce clean irrigation water daily.

Hilmar Cheese Company operates its own, on-site, state-of-the-art water reclamation plant at both facilities. The fully integrated four-stage system represents the single largest investment in water treatment made by any food processor in California.  See a diagram of the California facility.  Learn more about the California Water Reclamation Facility Operation and Performance. This treatment system removes nearly all of the organic components (sugar, protein and fats from milk) in our process water while achieving unprecedented reductions in salts and other natural minerals.  The Dalhart facility uses a modern pond and digester system to produce clean irrigation water.

Additional article on water regulations in California: California Farm Bureau Ag Alert Commentary January 19, 2010 "Regulators must balance environmental and economic sustainability."

Hilmar Cheese Company is proud of our longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship. We recognize our responsibility to the community and environment in which we live and raise our families.

Our commitment begins with conservation and careful management of our resources. We work with our suppliers to source earth friendly equipment. Our packaging materials are almost 100% recycled. Hilmar Cheese Company operates technologically advanced water reclamation facilities at both sites. Nearly all of the water we use is recycled and then converted into clean irrigation water used by local farmers. We are also proud to be a member of the California Climate Action Registry and have been recognized by the Registry as a Climate Action Leader in working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And, we are pursing opportunities for alternative energy solutions.

As we look to future generations, Hilmar Cheese Company is deeply committed to protecting the environment and bettering the lives of our employees, their families and our neighbors by acting responsibly both onsite and in our surrounding community.

Environmental Investigation Information Repository