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On America Recycles Day, Aluminum Can Industry Announces Initiatives and Successes in Increasing Recycling

Posted on: Tuesday, 15 November 2005, 09:00 CST

ARLINGTON, Va., Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- This America Recycles Day, the aluminum can industry is announcing and celebrating their efforts to increase aluminum can recycling rates, while encouraging Americans to get involved in recycling today and every other day of the year.

"More options exist today than ever before for individuals and communities to participate in recycling initiatives," said Jim Fisher of the Aluminum Can Council and Vice President of Ball Corporation. "Americans can recycle at home via curbside programs that exist in over 50% of communities. They can recycle to benefit numerous charities nationwide, including ones like Habitat for Humanity, which operates in over 1,400 communities. They can recycle at school, at church and at work. It's never been easier. We are proud of our programs and have seen many successes. People want to recycle. They just need it to be easy and convenient. We hope that by helping communities find more opportunities to expand their recycling programs, more people will find a way that works for them."

The Aluminum Association and Can Manufacturers Institute have joined forces in the Aluminum Can Council (ACC) to promote recycling on a variety of different levels. The following aluminum can industry-sponsored programs have all celebrated tremendous successes and provide opportunities for communities, businesses and individuals to enlist in the effort to continue increasing recycling participation.

Curbside Value Partnership

The Curbside Value Partnership (CVP) is a national partnership between the ACC and material recovery facility (MRF) operators, city officials and organizations interested in recycling. The partnership was created to increase residential participation in local curbside recycling programs and make the programs more profitable and sustainable. The CVP was formed by members of the ACC and is based on research, pilot programs and best practices around the country.

The CVP has had great success since its launch over two years ago. To date, the partnership has worked with city officials in communities including Denver, CO, Kansas City, MO, Orlando, FL, Indian River County, FL, Brevard County, FL and Dallas, TX to improve their curbside recycling efforts. Over 50 communities are expected to be partners by the end of the year.

Steve Thompson, Director of Recycling Initiatives for the ACC, attributes the success of the CVP to the overwhelming demand from communities nationwide to receive best practice research from communities with already successful curbside recycling program. "Because the CVP is an information sharing- organization, it is not only cost-effective, but also practical in that it gives solutions that have already proved to work in similar communities," said Thompson.

A pilot program in Indian River County, Florida saw a 22% increase in recycling of co-mingled materials. In every partner community, the ACC works with officials to educate residents on where and how to get a bin, showcases the benefits of recycling and helps cities measure success.

"There is no magic bullet out there," adds Thompson. "Get more bins on the street, educate your residents consistently and measure what you have done. It's that simple. And we can help."

Aluminum Can Challenge

The Aluminum Can Challenge is reflective of the aluminum and can manufacturer industries' commitment to recycling and the environment by collecting and recycling used aluminum beverage cans for local charities and raising recycling awareness.

In this friendly competition, the ACC has encouraged all aluminum can manufacturing facilities to participate in recycling aluminum cans across their communities. Employees are encouraged to ask friends, community groups, schools and local businesses to recycle cans at designated locations.

The Challenge began on September 1 and ends on America Recycles Day. The top three facilities with the highest number of cans recycled per capita will have $500 dedicated to the charity of their choice. The aluminum recycling operation facility recycling the most per capita wins a $500 check for their selected local charity.

School Programs

The ACC works with schools nationwide to educate and inform children, teachers and parents about the importance of recycling. This is done via several programs -- the Recycle Challenge and two school curriculums: The ABCs of Environmental Education and Talkin' Trash with ABCs.

Recycle Challenge currently involves partnerships with seven school communities across the country to involve their students in recycling participation. Schools volunteer to serve as aluminum can drop-off centers and easily accessible bins on-site. The schools receive funding garnered from the recycled cans. To date, Recycle Challenge has worked with schools in Arlington, TX, Atlanta, GA, Cartersville-Barlow, GA, Cincinnati, OH, Columbus, GA, Indianapolis, IN and St. Louis, MO.

Additionally, the two school curriculums sponsored by the ACC are distributed to schools nationwide. The ABCs of Environmental Education (grades 3-5) and Talkin' Trash with ABCs (grades 6-9) serve as tools to educate school-aged children about aluminum cans and the importance of recycling. Both curriculums are available for download at http://www.cancentral.com/.

Cans for Habitat

Cans for Habitat is a partnership between the Aluminum Association and Habitat for Humanity International where money earned from recycled aluminum cans goes directly to the construction of Habitat homes in communities around the country. To date, over 650 Habitat affiliates nationwide participate in the program.

Since the Cans for Habitat program began in 1997, 11.3 million pounds of aluminum cans have been recycled nationally by and for Habitat affiliates -- an equivalent of over $4 million, all of which has gone to the construction of more than 92 Habitat houses. Local affiliates, volunteers, recyclers, national and local retail outlets and civic organizations work together to "Make Every Can Count!"

"Aluminum can recycling has not only provided significant funds to help our home building ministry, but it has also opened the door to hundreds of local citizens who did not understand the Habitat mission," said Charlie Park, Executive Director of Webster Habitat for Humanity in Springhill, LA, one of Cans for Habitat's most successful and engaged affiliates. "Besides numerous other positive effects, our recycling program has generated some reciprocal recycling programs with other organizations. And this is resulting in a cleaner environment and less aluminum that will need to be manufactured."

For additional information, please contact the Aluminum Can Council by calling Steve Thompson at (804) 798-5750 or visit these Web sites:

http://www.aluminum.org/ http://www.recyclecurbside.org/ http://www.cansforhabitat.org/ http://www.cancentral.com/

Aluminum Can Council

CONTACT: Jennifer Goodman, +1-202-944-3378, orjgoodman@hillandknowlton.com, for the Aluminum Can Council

Web site: http://www.aluminum.org/http://www.recyclecurbside.org/http://www.cansforhabitat.org/http://www.cancentral.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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