Every Bottle Back invests in Michigan community

Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, has been selected to receive an investment to expand residential recycling access, transforming the community’s recycling program from an opt-in system to universal distribution for more than 15,000 households. The investment is being made through the Every Bottle Back initiative and will include the distribution of free, 96-gallon recycling carts to all eligible residents of Ypsilanti Township, in effect doubling the existing household access points for curbside recycling service.

Ypsilanti Township will receive $243,000 from the American Beverage Association through The Recycling Partnership, which benefits more than 50,000 Ypsilanti Township residents and, over the next decade, is expected to bring more than 40 million pounds of new recyclables into the recycling stream, including more than 1.5 million pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and more than 607,000 pounds of aluminum, according to a news release from American Beverage. The grant also includes more than $15,000 for community education and outreach.

“Through this initiative, Ypsilanti Township will be able to standardize recycling collection and ensure equity in the program with every eligible household having a cart,” says Cassandra Ford, Community Program Manager at The Recycling Partnership. “Residents will be able to recycle more and increase the capture of valuable recyclables needed to make new products and packaging.”

Every Bottle Back is a beverage industry-led effort to reduce the industry’s plastic footprint and to create a cleaner environment. The investment in Ypsilanti Township is being made in collaboration with the American Beverage Association, Washington; The Recycling Partnership, Washington; and the Michigan Soft Drink Association, Lansing, Michigan.

“American Beverage is pleased to announce an investment in Ypsilanti Township, news which will continue the growth of our Every Bottle Back initiative in the great state of Michigan,” says Katherine Lugar, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association. “It is our hope that these recycling infrastructure improvements and community partnerships will continue to increase overall recycling rates in the state, helping to keep more plastic out of the environment and creating an even cleaner community for Ypsilanti Township, its residents and businesses.”

Ypsilanti Township is the latest in more than two dozen projects the beverage industry has committed to under Every Bottle Back. Previous investments in Michigan total more than $1 million from Every Bottle Back investments and more than $6 million in community and state matching funds.

In early 2021, Every Bottle Back issued a grant of $68,800 to communities within Marquette County, Michigan. The funds were used to purchase higher-capacity recycling carts and recycling education materials for the 4,450 households in Marquette County, including Ishpeming, Marquette and Negaunee townships. American Beverage through Every Bottle Back also invested $800,000, deployed in partnership with New York City-based Closed Loop Partners, in Recycle Ann Arbor to help rebuild and reopen the city’s material recovery facility.

“Michigan’s soft drink producers and distributors take pride in leading our state’s sustainability efforts,” says Derek Bajema, president and CEO of Michigan Soft Drink Association. “We’re committed to improving overall recycling rates through comprehensive, community-based initiatives. As the eighth community to receive an Every Bottle Back investment in our state, Michigan’s beverage industry’s positive impact continues to be realized through these valuable partnerships, helping us reach our ultimate goal to keep our state beautiful.”

To date, Every Bottle Back investments total more than $19 million in committed funding and are projected to yield 719 million more pounds of PET over 10 years.