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Contact:
Ed Wilson
Mark Oldfield
Don Drysdale
(916) 323-1886 |
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Sacramento, CA – The
California Department of Conservation
will celebrate the 35th anniversary of
Earth Day with the launch of a
“Recycling Starter Kit” designed to
increase recycling opportunities in
businesses statewide. The easy-to-use
kit will help businesses establish a
sustainable recycling program for empty
bottles and cans.
“Starting a beverage
container recycling program is a great
way for businesses to take an active
role in conserving California’s precious
natural resources,” said Mike Chrisman,
Secretary for Resources. “And at four
cents for containers less than 24 ounces
and 8 cents for larger containers,
California businesses have the
opportunity to cash in on a portion of
an estimated $360 million in California
Refund Value that is simply thrown in
the trash each year.” The waste amount
is equivalent to approximately 8 billion
containers.
A signature lightweight recycling bin is
the kit’s centerpiece, accompanied by a
variety of eye-catching recycling
posters, stickers and tips on how to set
up an ongoing beverage container
recycling program.
Before developing the Recycling Starter
Kit program, the Department conducted
several beverage container recycling
pilot programs throughout the state to
help learn best practices in a variety
of business types including bars and
restaurants, office environments and
gyms. As a result, three high-profile
California companies including, Gold’s
Gym, Gap and the Hard Rock Café, now
have effective, bottle and can recycling
programs that have been embraced by
their employees and customers since
April 2004. All three companies will
receive awards from the California
Department of Conservation this Earth
Day for their excellence and dedication
to beverage container recycling.
Businesses interested in receiving a
Recycling Starter Kit can order one now
by simply visiting
www.bottlesandcans.com (click on
“Start a Recycling Program”).
California is one of
10 states with a beverage
container-recycling program. The
Department of Conservation administers
the California Beverage Container
Recycling and Litter Reduction Act. The
primary goal of the act is to achieve
and maintain high recycling rates for
the billions of aluminum, glass and
plastic beverage containers sold in
California each year.
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