Plastics Makers Help Visitors Recycle at the Aquarium of the Pacific
LONG BEACH, Calif., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ — The nonprofit Aquarium of the Pacific and the plastics industries of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) today announced a new partnership to provide more recycling opportunities to aquarium visitors. The announcement kicks off the holiday season for the aquarium as “Scuba Santa” will be delivering special gifts and treats to the various birds, fish and other animals on Saturday and Sunday. And to further support this new recycling partnership, the aquarium will offer a free admission with the purchase of a regular adult admission, when you bring in a plastic bottle to recycle. The offer is only valid this weekend, Dec. 5-6.
As part of the program, ACC will provide a total of eight recycling bins to the aquarium. The bins will be decorated with images of marine life and educational messages reminding visitors about the importance of recycling as part of the overall solution to keeping our ocean and beaches clean.
“The ACC’s recycling bins stand out from our others by providing us with another important teaching tool. The ocean images depicted on them allows us to remind our visitors how this everyday act can help protect ocean life,” said Dr. James B. Wood, Aquarium of the Pacific Director of Education.
This is not the first time the two groups have joined forces. ACC was a partner in the creation of the recent Aquarium exhibition, Our Watersheds: Pathway to the Pacific. ACC is excited to once again work with the aquarium.
“The Aquarium of the Pacific is home to many forms of marine life, and we all must do what we can to protect them,” said ACC Manager of State Affairs Sherri McCarthy. “Learning to reduce, reuse and recycle is an important way all of us can make a difference for the environment. Much of what ends up as litter and debris shouldn’t be trash at all because it is valuable, recyclable material.”
The aquarium is the latest partner to become part of a statewide recycling awareness campaign, “Plastics. Too Valuable to Waste. Recycle.(SM),” which has found success in a variety of areas. The campaign began in 2008 when representatives from the California Department of Parks and Recreation, ACC and Keep California Beautiful (KCB) launched a recycling program that placed – and continues to maintain – hundreds of permanent and seasonal recycling bins at State Parks sites in the Los Angeles and Central Coast areas. The program soon spread to State Parks beaches in the San Diego, Monterey and Santa Cruz areas, the City of Brentwood and the City of Woodland. For more information, see www.2valuable2waste.com.
The Aquarium of the Pacific, a nonprofit institution, is dedicated to instilling a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants, and ecosystems. Home to over 11,000 animals, the Aquarium explores the waters of Southern California and Baja and the Northern and Tropical Pacific. The Aquarium features hands-on discovery labs staffed by knowledgeable volunteers; the Lorikeet Forest aviary; its interactive Shark Lagoon; the bilingual kiosk exhibit Whales: Voices in the Sea; and the bilingual Gulf of California exhibition. The Aquarium was rated #2 Los Angeles area Family Destination in the latest Zagat U.S. Family Travel Guide. A world of discovery awaits people of all ages, backgrounds, and interests. The Aquarium is open daily from 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and is located at 100 Aquarium Way in Long Beach, Calif. General admission is $23.95 for adults (12+), $20.95 for seniors (62+), $11.95 for children (3-11), and free for children under 3 and Aquarium members. For advance tickets and information, the public may visit www.aquariumofpacific.org or call 562/590-3100.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) represents the leading companies engaged in the business of chemistry. ACC members apply the science of chemistry to make innovative products and services that make people’s lives better, healthier and safer. ACC is committed to improved environmental, health and safety performance through Responsible Care®, common sense advocacy designed to address major public policy issues, and health and environmental research and product testing. The business of chemistry is a $689 billion enterprise and a key element of the nation’s economy. It is one of the nation’s largest exporters, accounting for ten cents out of every dollar in U.S. exports. Chemistry companies are among the largest investors in research and development. Safety and security have always been primary concerns of ACC members, and they have intensified their efforts, working closely with government agencies to improve security and to defend against any threat to the nation’s critical infrastructure.
SOURCE American Chemistry Council