Recycling

The Beverage Industry & Recycling

Recycling Matters

We produce beverages that consumers enjoy, but we care about what happens to those beverage containers in the long run. Very simply, we also care about the environment. We have worked hard to reduce the amount of packaging used to deliver beverages and have had some great successes, but we know that recovering the remaining containers is just as important. Recycling is a key component of our environmental mission and an important part of our business and our lives.

Making a Difference

The beverage industry’s bottles and cans are among the most recycled consumer packaging in the U.S. We work hard to package our products with materials that are widely accepted in recycling programs and are designed to be recyclable with other, similar materials. We also have a commitment to helping with recycling efforts around the country – a commitment we have had for many years. And we are always looking for ways to do more.

One primary example of this dedication occurred last October when the American Beverage Association became a founding member in the National Recycling Partnership (NRP) created to reinvigorate recycling in America. This historic partnership—which includes the National Recycling Coalition, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Food Marketing Institute, the Grocery Manufacturers Association and the International Bottled Water Association—aims to revive consumers’ interest in recycling by educating them on what, how and why to recycle.

A top priority for the National Recycling Partnership coalition is the development and dissemination of consumer-friendly recycling icons as well as accurate and standardized recycling terminology for use in product labeling and advertising.

Recycle It Now

The beverage industry’s Recycle It Now campaign is another example of a unique public-private partnership, which provides state and local government officials with turnkey tools that can be used to promote recycling at the community level. After significant research and focus group testing, the beverage industry developed a radio and billboard based campaign that uses humor and a reincarnation theme to motivate consumers to participate in their local recycling programs. While the campaign targets adults ages 18-34, recycling officials across the country have found that Recycle It Now also appeals to a substantial number of consumers outside of the target demographic.

ABA tested the campaign in Pittsburgh and Hampton Roads, Virginia. The response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic and revealed a 25 percent increase in the amount of beverage containers placed at the curb for collection on recycling day. Campaigns in Cleveland, Columbus and San Antonio produced similar results, and based on these successes, recycling officials across the country are adopting elements of the campaign in their communities.

Another critical tool of Recycle It Now is the specially designed bottle-shaped collection container that is decorated with the same colorful artwork that is seen on the billboards. Easy to deploy, these attractive containers provide the perfect opportunity for beverage container recycling at stadiums, schools and universities, outdoor special events, and any other venues where beverage containers are consumed on the go.

Worth the Effort

Recycling has many benefits:

• Conserves natural resources,
• Conserves energy,
• Decreases greenhouse gas emissions,
• Reduces pollution, and
• Avoids waste disposal.

Do you know beverage containers account for 40 to 70 percent of all revenues earned in community recycling programs? 

Comprehensive Recycling

Comprehensive recycling programs target all of the recoverable materials in the waste stream. In fact, the newest developments in recycling technology allow for even more materials to be collected together for recycling, simplifying the recycling process for consumers and, as a result, increasing participation in recycling programs. Comprehensive programs are the best and most effective recycling approach because they:

• Provide convenient and simple access to recycling for consumers
• Reduce recycling program operating costs through greater scale economies and efficiencies
• Provide greater environmental benefits because of higher recovery levels and more efficient collection and processing
• Focus on all materials that can be recovered in the waste stream

The most common form of comprehensive recycling is residential curbside recycling programs through which households can recycle a wide range of materials. Any community that provides trash collection to its residents should also be able to provide recyclables collection. In smaller communities or rural areas where trash collection is not viable, recycling is provided through drop-off programs. Comprehensive recycling programs also can be found in workplaces, parks, restaurants and other commercial and government establishments, although residential programs are more common.

How You Can Recycle

The beverage industry can help provide you with resources to recycle your empty beverage containers. We've got plans for your bottles and cans.