Staples Receives Prominent Environmental Leadership Award From the National Recycling...

Staples Receives Prominent Environmental Leadership Award From the National
Recycling Coalition

Recycling Initiatives Recognized as Industry Model

WASHINGTON, April 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Recycling
Coalition announced today that Staples is the recipient of the NRC's eleventh
annual Recycling Works Award for its broad-reaching efforts to promote
recycling and waste reduction among its customers and throughout its
operations.

The award, presented at NRC's annual gala Tuesday, recognized Staples'
leadership in providing easy-to-use product recovery programs and eco-friendly
product choices through its EcoEasy(TM) initiative making it easier for its
customers to become effective environmental stewards.

"Staples is honored to be recognized by the National Recycling Coalition's
Recycling Works Award," said Mike Miles, Staples president and chief operating
officer. "We're making it easy for our customers to recycle used office
products, from empty ink cartridges to old printers, and to buy new products
with recycled content."

Staples is the first national retailer to offer an every-day in-store
technology recycling program. In 2008, Staples collected nearly 5 million
pounds of technology waste for responsible recycling through its retail
technology recycling program. The company is also one of the world's leading
ink recyclers. By accepting any brand or type of cartridge and allowing
customers to earn $3 back in Staples Rewards for each cartridge recycled,
Staples is on track to recycle 50 million cartridges in 2009.

"Staples' environmental leadership and initiatives address two critical goals:
expanding the infrastructure to economically capture more recycled materials
and actively engaging the public in the act of recycling by making it easy and
convenient," said Ed Skernolis, acting executive director. "Their impressive
environmental commitment and the impact of their programs make them an ideal
recipient of NRC's Recycling Works Award."

In addition to its recycling services, Staples has been an industry leader in
providing consumers with eco-friendly product options. Staples was the first
retailer to offer its own brand of recycled content copy and print papers that
are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) -- a leading
certification standard for sustainable forest management. To reduce the
environmental impact of product packaging, the company plans to eliminate the
use of PVC and use at least 65 percent recycled content in its own brand
product packaging by the end of this year.

Staples was also the first national copy and print operation to begin using
50% post-consumer recycled FSC-certified paper as the standard offering for
high speed black and white copying at its Staples Copy & Print Centers.

Since 1998, the NRC's Recycling Works Award has honored an organization or
individual who has demonstrated leadership in recycling and conservation of
the environment. Previous recipients include The Coca-Cola Company, Dell,
Inc., Starbucks, Waste Management Recycle America, McDonald's Corp. and
Environmental Defense, to name a few.

About the NRC

The NRC is a national, non-profit advocacy group with members that span all
aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America. NRC's
objective is to eliminate waste and promote sustainable economies though
advancing sound management practices for raw materials in North America. NRC
works with its members and partners to sponsor programs and stakeholder forums
that provide tools and nurture solutions for the recycling industry. Breaking
new ground in how Americans think about waste, the Coalition is a strong and
clear voice for recycling. For more information about the NRC please visit
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/.

SOURCE National Recycling Coalition

Ed Skernolis of the National Recycling Coalition, +1-202-789-1430 ext. 18,
eskernolis@nrc-recycle.org