"As carton recycling opportunities have become more prevalent throughout the U.S., we saw the need to establish reliable information on how consumers can participate in this growing stream," said Raquel Fagan, VP of media for Earth911. "We are excited to launch this new resource with a group that is so dedicated to ensuring this packaging does not go to waste."
Currently, 36% of U.S. households have access to curbside carton recycling, up from 18% only two years ago, according to the Carton Council. Drop-off and mail-in programs are also available, expanding access. The average person uses 17 drink boxes per year, which means there is a significant opportunity to reclaim these materials for secondary use.
"Not only is the Carton Council working to establish wider access to carton recycling," said Ed Klein, executive director, "but we want to make sure that the people who do have access know that they can recycle these materials and how to do that properly. With our relationship, they can read about, find, and utilize their local recycling opportunities easier than before."
Members of the Carton Council include Elopak, Evergreen Packaging, SIG/SIG Combibloc, and Tetra Pak. As of November 2011, the Council's Carton Recycling Access Campaign had helped increase consumer access to nearly 42 million households nationwide (more than 1 in 3 American households).
More information about the new section on Earth 911.com is available online.
TAPPI
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