Dec 10 2008
The national nonprofit organization Keep America Beautiful (KAB) and the Curbside Value Partnership (CVP) announced today that it has formed a strategic alliance designed to increase participation in curbside recycling programs. Beginning January 1, 2009, CVP will work closely with KAB and its affiliates, operating as a KAB program. This alliance will add CVP to a growing roster of programs offered to KAB affiliate organizations and further highlights KAB's commitment to waste reduction.
"The Curbside Value Partnership represents a successful approach to increasing recycling participation, thereby helping communities realize the environmental and financial benefits of recycling and helping to fight the global war on climate change," said Matthew M. McKenna, President and CEO of Keep America Beautiful, Inc.
"Recycling is an effective and easy way for Americans to help the environment, which is why we are excited about CVP. If all of the materials that could have been recycled last year were, we would have offset more than 99 million metric tons of CO2, emissions that are harmful to our climate. That equates to 505,000 rail car loads of coal, enough to stretch from Atlanta, Georgia to Fairbanks, Alaska. The impact of recycling cannot be overstated."
CVP was formed five years ago by The Aluminum Association and The Can Manufacturers Institute to help communities grow and sustain their residential curbside recycling programs. The program goals are to help communities grow participation in their programs and to help them measure this growth to make better decisions. On average, partnering communities have seen an increase of 22 percent in recycling volume and a 20 percent increase in participation, successes that caught the attention of KAB.
"CVP is proud of the accomplishments we have achieved since inception five years ago," said Steve Thompson, CVP Program Director. "Our team looks forward to working with KAB and its affiliate network to expand the program to more communities. Our 40-plus list of current and pending CVP partners can rest assured we will continue our strong tradition of supporting their efforts and will continue to collect and share best practices nationwide. This alliance will only strengthen CVP and allow us to do and share more, and really take the program to the next level."
KAB's 587 certified affiliates support litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification activities in communities of all sizes. One in three KAB affiliates also serve as their communities' recycling coordinators, and are responsible for increasing recycling access and participation rates -- reinforcing why the alliance is a natural fit.
"When consumers have greater access to -- and enthusiasm for -- recycling, everyone wins," added McKenna. "Keep America Beautiful looks forward to building partnerships with all stakeholders in recycling to bring this program to a new level of support and a critical mass. We also applaud the successful efforts of CVP to date. They have worked hard to grow curbside programs and so have their partnering communities. CVP stakeholders are deeply committed to seeing the program succeed and so are we."
Under the terms of the strategic alliance, KAB will assume operational, fundraising and development responsibilities for the program beginning in January 2009. Thompson will continue as the CVP Executive Director where he will work closely with KAB and its affiliate network to continue to launch and test new education programs.
"The aluminum industry is delighted to see this expansion of CVP, said Steve Larkin, President, The Aluminum Association. "CVP works to increase recycling of all commodities not just aluminum. For it to truly become a multi-material, nationwide program this strategic alliance with KAB is the natural next step."
"Our members care deeply about sustainability. Increasing recycling rates is one critical element," said Robert Budway, President, The Can Manufacturers Institute. "CVP has been able to do just that in the communities where we have worked. We are proud of this success and can't wait to see what KAB affiliates are able to do with all of the tools and resources CVP brings to communities."