Kentucky city joins Coca-Cola recycling rewards program

Residents with access to the curbside recycling program in Louisville, Kentucky, will be able to participate in the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win rewards program starting Oct. 16, 2015. The program will reward some residents with a $50 grocery store gift card if they are “caught” recycling the right way.

“Our Sustain Louisville plan includes a goal of diverting 90 percent of recyclable material away from our landfill by the year 2042,” says Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer. “We believe the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win program will help us make progress toward that goal.”

“Any increase in recycling rates saves tax dollars in the long run by extending the life of landfills,” says Keith Hackett, Metro Public Works assistant director for solid waste management. “We know that other communities have achieved increased recycling with the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win program.”

Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, Charlotte, North Carolina, say they have invested more than $150,000 in the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win program, which includes a direct mail educational packet sent to all single-family households in Louisville the week of Oct. 16.

The educational packet contains a “Give It Back” sticker along with images highlighting which materials should go into recycling containers. Residents must place the “Give It Back” sticker on one of their recycling containers to be eligible for a chance to win a $50 gift card to a Kroger grocery store. Additional packets and stickers will be available at Kroger stores in and near Louisville

“Coca-Cola is proud to bring the Coca-Cola Recycle & Win program to Louisville,” says Lauren Steele, senior vice president, corporate affairs, with Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated. “The Coca-Cola Co. believes it is essential to educate everyone on the importance of recycling and recycling properly. We also believe that recycling should be a rewarding experience, and what better way to encourage people to recycle than by giving them an opportunity to be a winner!”

Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated bills itself as the largest independent Coca-Cola bottler in the United States.

A “Recycle Patrol” will begin visiting Louisville neighborhoods in October 2015 to “catch” households that are recycling properly and will award a total of 270 Kroger $50 gift cards during the six-month program.

“Recycle & Win is a great program because it offers an incentive for community members to develop positive recycling habits while bringing additional attention to the importance of recycling,” says Penny Goddin, vice president of merchandising at Kroger.