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Recycling Overview Recycling Strategy
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Because recycling trends are quite different across our territories, we have developed different approaches in our territories to achieve our shared Commitment 2020 goal. In North America, Coca-Cola Recycling LLC was created in 2007 to support the Coca-Cola system’s recycling goals; in Europe, our Recycle Zone model is used to encourage consumer recycling at public venues. Because of our work with key Coca-Cola customers, both program models have proven successful. On-the-Go Consumer Recycling North America Since 2007, Coca-Cola Recycling has focused on increasing recovery and reuse in North America. In 2009, Coca-Cola Recycling collected nearly 160,000 metric tons of aluminum and PET, an increase of 27 percent. We have already exceeded our goal to recover 230,000 metric tons of beverage containers from 2007 through 2010. Having already achieved this milestone, we are well positioned to help The Coca-Cola Company reach their 2015 goal to recover the equivalent of 50 percent of our bottles and cans sold in North America. As we scale up our recycling work, we have identified the following key elements for success:
In North America, we target busy public places where our beverages are consumed such as sports and entertainment venues, large special events, the top 100 colleges and universities, and amusement parks. Our Recycling Education Vehicles are used at these venues as a focal point for fun consumer education with recycling-themed videos, games, and rewards. During 2009, the vehicles appeared at more than 160 different events across 41 states and provinces in North America and Canada. By partnering with large customers and venues, we help install sustainable recycling infrastructure. Highlights for 2009 include:
Europe
In Great Britain, we are rapidly expanding our Recycle Zone program, which allows consumers to recycle beverage packages while on the go. By the end of 2009, we had 34 zones in busy public areas ranging from shopping malls and concert arenas to transportation hubs such as train stations and airports, thereby providing the 100 million visitors to these places with recycling opportunities. Our Recycle Zones have been supported by a new national marketing campaign, “Keep it Going. Recycle.” that shows how recycling bottles and cans reduces the carbon footprint of a packaged drink by more than 50 percent. By 2011, we plan to have 80 Recycle Zones in Great Britain. In Belgium, where recycling rates are the highest among our territories, we focus on recycling at concerts, sports arenas, and other events. By partnering with event organizers, we were able to recover the majority of bottles and cans at the Rock Werchter Festival. We share best practices among European countries. In France, we adopted the Recycle Zone model, setting up the first recycling program in 2009 at the world-famous Louvre museum. We now plan to develop 14 additional recycle zones in France.
At-Home Consumer Recycling While curbside recycling is widespread in our European and Canadian territories, only half of U.S. households have access to recycling at home and only 50 percent of those with access use their curbside recycling programs. Because most of our beverages are consumed at home, we are working on domestic collection and recycling by supporting programs that combine infrastructure with marketing, education, and compelling incentives. In 2009, we supported the launch of an innovative recycling incentive program, ReCart, in Atlanta, Georgia, through a partnership with RecycleBank. The pilot program recovers recyclables from 10,000 households in exchange for RecycleBank points that can be redeemed at hundreds of businesses. Early results show that recovery of recyclable material has doubled within the pilot area. We are now in dialogue with other cities to launch similar programs. |