Georgia-Pacific and Starbucks Coffee Co. are launching a pilot recycling program at a number of Starbucks in the Chicago area where recyclable paper will be collected and shipped to G-P’s Green Bay, Wis., tissue mill. The recycled paper products will converted into paper napkins and shipped back to Starbucks, as well as other customers. The program also will collect plastic cups and plastic lids, which will be marketed to other manufacturers.
While G-P will have a dedicated stream coming into the mill from Starbucks, the material will be mixed with fiber from other sources, to make the paper napkins, as well as other paper products.
Materials slated to be collected through the program include cups, sleeves, corrugated containers, plastic lids and cups and other recyclables.
G-P’s Harmon Recycling division will handle the set up, collection and marketing of the material for the program, which is expected to begin this fall. The companies have not yet determined the number of stores or locations of the stores that will take part in the collection program.