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The Washington-based American Beverage Association (ABA) has announced a major milestone for its Every Bottle Back initiative: the delivery of 1 million recycling carts to households across the country.
Launched by leading beverage companies in the U.S. in 2019, Every Bottle Back has sought to strengthen recycling infrastructure and boost the collection of 100 percent recyclable plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
According to the ABA, in partnership with The Recycling Partnership and Closed Loop Partners, the initiative has:
- delivered 1 million curbside recycling carts to residents nationwide;
- invested $30 million to improve recycling systems and educate residents across 58 communities, reaching more than 15.3 million Americans;
- kept a projected 713 million pounds of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) out of landfills and the environment over the next decade; and
- increased projected aluminum recycling by 45 million pounds over the next decade.
“America’s beverage companies are working to protect and enhance our environment, tackling plastic waste through real investments and innovation,” ABA President and CEO Kevin Keane says. "Our 1 millionth cart, made possible by the support of our dedicated partners, shows how we can help make communities more sustainable and vibrant for generations to come.”
The millionth cart rolled out with the latest round of investments supporting South Hadley, Longmeadow and Arlington, Massachusetts. The three towns will receive a combined $471,200 to upgrade local recycling infrastructure and expand access to curbside recycling carts. Every Bottle Back has invested over $1 million in Massachusetts, giving thousands of additional residents tools to recycle more bottles and cans.
“Strong systems don’t happen by accident. They are built through smart investments and real partnership,” says Keefe Harrison, CEO of The Recycling Partnership, Washington. “This milestone is proof that when industry steps up and communities are equipped with the right tools and outreach, we capture more high-value materials and keep them in the supply chain. This is what real systems change looks like: measurable, repeatable and built to last.”
“This milestone shows what’s possible when industries invest in on-the-ground solutions,” says Ron Gonen, founder and CEO of New York-based Closed Loop Partners. “One million carts delivered means access to recycling for millions of households, and millions of dollars’ worth of packaging materials diverted from landfills – and kept within supply chains. We are proud to work with our partners to catalyze capital toward key infrastructure and accelerate the transition to a resilient circular economy.”
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