NRC Honors Anheuser-Busch and Verizon

"Anheuser-Busch and Verizon are demonstrating every day that waste prevention and recycling are more than just sound business practices-they provide significant business advantages as well," Kate Krebs, NRC's executive director, says. "By integrating recycling into their business operations, they see not only genuine environmental benefits, but economic benefits as well. We applaud their vision and their leadership in proving that recycling really does work for American businesses."

Anheuser-Busch is the world's largest brewer and one of the largest U.S. manufacturers of aluminum beverage containers. The Anheuser-Busch Recycling Corporation, founded in 1978, is the largest recycler of aluminum cans in the world. Through a widespread network of aluminum recycling suppliers, the company now recycles more than 125 percent of the aluminum cans it sells domestically: approximately 20 billion can per year.

Recycling has been a part of Anheuser-Busch's corporate culture since its founding. As early as 1899, Anheuser-Busch used spent grain from beer brewing operations as protein-rich cattle feed. Since then, the company has expanded its recycling program to include 97 percent of its solid waste. For example, in 2001, Anheuser-Busch recycled 70 million pounds of glass, 3.5 billion pounds of spent grains, 45 million pounds of cardboard, 2 million pounds of plastic strap and 11 million pounds of beechwood chips and 600 million pounds of farm materials into compost.

Anheuser-Busch is also working through its supply chain to increase waste prevention and recycling. In 2000, the company began a stretch film-recycling program that now includes more than 100 wholesalers of Anheuser-Busch beer.

Verizon Communications, a Fortune 10 company, is one of the world's leading providers of communications services and the largest provider of wireline and wireless communications in the United States. Verizon is also the world's largest provider of print and online directory information.

During 2001, Verizon processed for repair, reuse and recycling approximately 57,524 tons of telecommunications equipment generated through the maintenance or upgrading of its network. Repairing and reusing defective equipment saved the company $47.6 million, while selling marketable used equipment produced $12.6 million in revenue.

Verizon continues to lead the Yellow Pages industry in recycling initiatives. In 2001, all 180,000 tons of directory text paper purchased by the company had a minimum of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content. Verizon also voluntarily includes recycling information in its directories to educate customers about the recycling options available in their communities.

Sponsorship opportunities for the Recycling Works Recognition Awards are as follows: Premier Sponsor-$10,000, Event Sponsor-$5,000, Table Sponsor-$2,500. Individual tickets are available for $300. For more information about sponsoring or attending the event, please call NRC's June Geoffray at (202) 347-0450, ext. 27 or send an email to juneg@nrc-recycle.org.

The National Recycling Coalition is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to the advancement and improvement of recycling, and also source reduction, composting and reuse, by providing technical information, education, training, outreach and advocacy services to its members in order to conserve resources and benefit the environment. For more information, visit www.nrc-recycle.org.