PepsiCo kicks off multi-million US recycling partnership

More than half of the material that could be recycled from US households is lost, according to Pepsi’s philanthropic arm, The PepsiCo Foundation. It is funding the launch of an initiative to make domestic recycling easier.

A survey by the Carton Council of North America in 2016 indicated that 94% of Americans would recycle more if containers were easily accessible and information about recycling practices was clearer. The All In On Recycling challenge pioneered by the PepsiCo Foundation in partnership with The Recycling Partnership (TRP) is intended to help the US capture 1.7 million tonnes of quality recyclable materials over the next five years, including seven billion bottles and cans.

Raising funds

The foundation is contributing US$ 10 million (EUR 8.5 million) and the challenge aims to raise a total of US$ 25 million from leading businesses, companies, and other organisations to boost the American recycling industry.  More than 2 800 communities participating in the initiative are expected contribute a further US$ 75 million, bringing the total fund to US$ 100 million.

Confronting challenges

Half of this total is expected to provide kerbside collection vehicles to more than 550 000 households and the infrastructure needed to recover recyclables from those living in multi-family homes such as apartment buildings and condos, one of the most challenging segments of the population to serve. The other half of the funding will support recycling education and operational programmes that will increase the collection of recyclables while reducing contamination. If successful, the multi-million initiative would avoid five million tonnes of CO2 being released into the atmosphere.

100% focus

PepsiCo says its role in this nation-wide campaign is part of its existing sustainability programme, Performance with a Purpose. By 2025, PepsiCo’s goal is to design 100% of their packaging to be recyclable, compostable or, biodegradable. It also wants to increase recycled materials in its plastic packaging.