Sponsorship is Key Element of Three Pronged Approach to Boost Recycling Rates in the U.S.
Amcor Rigid Plastics, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of rigid plastic packaging, has announced its second year of sponsorship of America Recycles Day 2014, a national initiative of Keep America Beautiful, a U.S.-based non-profit organization that focuses on consumer environmental education and awareness.
Amcor - one of the world's largest manufacturers of plastic packaging for food, beverage, spirits, home/personal care, and healthcare industries – will join Johnson & Johnson Family of Consumer Companies, Pilot Corp., Northrop Grumman, The American Chemistry Council, and Waste Management as national sponsors of the Nov. 15 event. In recognition of the event, Amcor plans to engage local communities through its network of 30 manufacturing facilities in the U.S. "Our commitment to Keep America Beautiful and America Recycles Day is one element of our three-pronged approach to boost plastic recycling rates in the U.S.," said Charlie Schwarze, global manager of sustainability for Amcor Rigid Plastics. “Parts two and three involve innovation around recyclable materials and our investment in the Recycling Partnership in the U.S.”
In July, Amcor announced its investment in the Recycling Partnership, a privately funded public-private project that seeds partner dollars from companies and organizations to unlock substantially larger public investments in community recycling programs. Coca-Cola, Sonoco, and Ball Corp. have joined Amcor to lead this effort, which has already identified Columbia, S.C; Richmond, Va.; and Florence, Ala. as initial fund recipients. The Partnership expects to release funds to these three cities in 2015.
“We see an enormous potential to leverage our investments with larger local, state, and federal funding to provide curbside access, technical assistance, and recycling education in cities like Columbia, Richmond, Florence, and beyond,” added Schwarze.
”Education alone won’t solve the recycling issue, and that’s why our investment in the Recycling Partnership and Keep America Beautiful are important.”
America Recycles Day will be officially recognized on Nov. 15, but events are already underway. More than 10 Amcor sites plan to engage co-workers and their communities through events and more than 900 events are scheduled across the country.
This year, Amcor will also take part in the first America Recycles Day Twitter Chat, which is intended to answer questions about recycling in the home. Interested participants can join live on Wednesday, Nov. 12, at 8 p.m. (EST). Search #AmericaRecyclesDay on Twitter to follow the conversation.
“Amcor processed over 70 million lb. of post-consumer recycled material last year and we want to keep that material flowing from consumer hands back into high-value end markets,” said Schwarze. “We need consumers to understand the benefits of recycling and our involvement in America Recycles Day helps send that message nationally.”
