Dive Brief:
- Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Department of Streets and Sanitation (DSS) commemorated the first anniversary of the Chicago's citywide recycling program by unveiling a new partnership with the Carton Council.
- The group of container manufacturers will provide education and outreach within the community to encourage residents to recycle food and beverage cartons.
- The campaign will include recycling ads on bus shelters, trains, and buses, in conjunction with a social media project on Facebook.
Dive Insight:
About 85,000 tons of recycling was collected in Chicago in 2013. So far this year, 80,000 tons have been collected citywide, with year-end totals expected to reach 100,000 tons.
The campaign in Chi-town was established to highlight that cartons are recyclable, and to push the citywide recycling rate higher. Many residents don’t realize that cartons can be recycled.
Carton recycling is gaining momentum, according to figures released by the Carton Council of North America. The Council's data indicates that carton recycling is available in 50% of U.S. households, and has increased by approximately 177% in the past five years. The rapid pace of growth can be attributed, in part, to outreach efforts in the carton industry and private-public partnerships.