Part Of 'Every Bottle Back,' High-Capacity Recycling Carts Coming

BRANFORD, CT — Branford residents are set to get new, large-capacity recycling carts as part of the beverage industry's Every Bottle Back initiative.

The initiative, which funds projects to improve recycling rates, is investing nearly $140,000 in Branford to replace small curbside recycling bins with 96-gallon carts. The new bins can hold more recyclable materials, including the beverage industry’s plastic bottles, which are designed to be 100 percent recyclable.

The investment also includes funds for a community outreach campaign to inform residents about best recycling practices.

According to Tyler Bowne, Branford Sustainability and Compliance Manager, the carts have begun to be distributed.

The Every Bottle Back initiative is an integrated and comprehensive initiative by The Coca-Cola Company, Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo, alongside sustainability leaders Closed Loop Partners, The Recycling Partnership and World Wildlife Fund, designed to improve plastics circularity.

“American Beverage is proud to help create a more efficient and effective recycling system for Branford residents,” interim president and CEO of American Beverage, Kevin Keane said. “Thanks to new, larger recycling carts and an informational campaign, we hope to collect more of our 100 percent recyclable bottles and cans, creating a more circular economy for our valuable containers. We are thankful to work with leaders in Branford to make this recycling modernization a reality.”

This investment will directly benefit more than 28,000 Branford residents across 8,700 households. Over the next decade, the investment is expected to yield more than four million pounds of new recyclables, including 157,560 pounds of PET plastic and 52,520 pounds of aluminum. Both are used to make the beverage industry’s 100 percent recyclable bottles and cans.

"We are thrilled to take this step to improve solid waste and recycling collection for the residents of Branford," First Selectman James B. Cosgrove said. "Thanks to this grant, the recycling carts, along with the education about recycling right, not only will residents have more space to recycle, but the recycling process will be made easier, ultimately reducing waste and making Branford a more environmentally sustainable community."

The town of Branford is the latest in more than 30 initial projects the beverage industry has committed to funding under Every Bottle Back. To date, all Every Bottle Back investments total more than $20 million in committed funding and are estimated to yield more than 726 million more pounds of PET over the next 10 years.

"The Recycling Partnership has been excited to work with the city of Branford to make it even easier for residents to recycle," said Keysha Burton, director of community infrastructure programs at The Recycling Partnership. "The upgrade from small bins to large carts means more materials can be recovered and put back into the recycling system as feedstock for manufacturers, furthering a move towards a circular economy."

Learn more about Every Bottle Back at www.EveryBottleBack.org.