Jul 28 2014
Amcor Rigid Plastics, a leading producer of rigid plastic packaging, has announced its membership in The Recycling Partnership, a collaborative, industry-funded effort designed to boost residential recycling in the U.S.
Amcor - one of the world’s largest manufacturers of plastic packaging for the food, beverage, spirits, personal/home care, and healthcare industries - joins Alcoa Foundation, American Chemistry Council, American Forest & Paper Association, the Association of Postconsumer Plastic Recyclers, Ball Corp., Carton Council, Coca-Cola, Society of the Plastics Industry, and Sonoco Products in this groundbreaking effort designed to leverage one-time private investments with public funding to support recycling in several cities.
“Product stewardship is a key focus area within Amcor’s sustainability strategy and we see investment in the Recycling Partnership as one way for us to enable higher recycling rates in the U.S.,” said Mike Schmitt, President, Amcor Rigid Plastics. “This program brings together all parts of the packaging value chain and has the ability to rapidly scale recycling efforts across the nation.”
Curbside Value Partnership Director Keefe Harrison added: “After the official launch of The Recycling Partnership, we continue to gain steam with the addition of Amcor. We are very pleased to gain their experienced voice to the growing group of recycling partners.” The Recycling Partnership has already selected initial partner cities for the first round of funding. These municipalities will receive technical and financial assistance targeting four key areas:
- Recycling Access – ensuring municipal households are served by large roll carts.
- Champion Building – bolstering support from local and state-elected officials.
- Regional Coordination – creating strategies across the entire recycling value chain to ensure best management practices for municipal recycling.
- Education and Outreach – Increasing recycling participation and reducing contamination in the recycling stream.
“Amcor is proud to be part of The Recycling Partnership,” said Charlie Schwarze, global sustainability manager at Amcor Rigid Plastics. “As a global packaging leader, Amcor’s management and co-workers are resolute in our commitment to the communities where we work and live.”
Amcor’s belief statement includes a commitment to responsible packaging, according to Schwarze. “Our investment in The Recycling Partnership marries these two missions: community and responsible packaging. Amcor’s involvement in a structured, multi-stakeholder group focused on recycling will ignite communities with education while providing real economic and environmental benefits,” said Schwarze.
About the Recycling Partnership
The Recycling Partnership was formed following an industry stakeholder meeting convened by the Southeast Recycling Development Council (SERDC) in December 2013. During the following four months, industry representatives, including Amcor, helped design the framework for the Recycling Partnership. The Partnership aims to finance one-time investments in communities that exhibit the potential for increased and sustained recycling rates. For more information, visit http://www.recyclecurbside.org
About Amcor
Amcor Rigid Plastics, a business group of Amcor Limited, is among the world’s largest manufacturers of plastic packaging for the food, beverage, spirits, personal/home care, and healthcare industries with 61 facilities in 13 countries. Amcor Limited is a global leader in responsible packaging solutions, employing more than 27,000 people worldwide, operating in over 40 countries across 180+ sites. Amcor supplies a broad range of rigid plastic and flexible packaging solutions to enhance the products consumers use in everyday life. Amcor also provides packaging-related services that help customers succeed through collaboration and innovation driven by art and science. Amcor is headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, and is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange. For more information, visit www.amcor.com
Source: http://www.amcor.com/