Beverage Industry logo
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
Beverage Industry logo
  • NEWS
    • R&D News
    • Supplier News
  • PRODUCTS
    • New Products
    • Reader's Choice Poll
  • CATEGORIES
    • Alternative Drinks
    • Beer
    • Bottled Water
    • Cannabis Beverages
    • Carbonated Soft Drinks
    • Energy Drinks & Shots
    • Juice & Juice Drinks
    • Plant-Based Beverages
    • Sports Drinks
    • Tea and Coffee
    • Wine & Spirits
  • R&D
    • Beverage R&D Features
    • Ingredient Spotlight
  • PACKAGING
    • New Packages
    • Packaging Equipment
    • Packaging Material
  • OPERATIONS
    • Distribution
    • Plant Focus
  • TOP LISTS
    • Beer Market Report
    • Executive of the Year
    • State of the Beverage Industry
    • Top 100 Beverage Companies
    • Truck Report
    • Wholesaler of the Year
  • MEDIA
    • eBook
    • Podcast
    • Polls
    • Videos
    • Webinars
  • DIRECTORIES
    • Annual Manual
    • Contract Packaging Guide
    • Take a Tour
  • MORE
    • Classifieds
    • Channel Strategies
    • eNewsletters
    • Events
      • Membrane Technology Forum
    • Interactive Product Spotlights
    • Market Insights
    • Sponsor Insights
    • Store
    • White Papers
  • EMAG
    • eMagazine
    • Archived Issues
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP!
Beverage NewsPackaging Material

ABA highlights how modernization projects are advancing recycling efforts

Initial projects of Every Bottle Back aid Texas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin recycling infrastructure

Every Bottle Back
October 29, 2020

The American Beverage Association (ABA), Washington, D.C., announced that the effort by America’s leading beverage companies to boost the recycling of plastic bottles saw the initiation of modernization projects in Texas, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. These projects will help more than 349,000 households recycle nearly 38 million new pounds of PET plastic over 10 years for remaking into new bottles, it adds.

 The investments are the first three of nine initial projects that we have committed funding for under Every Bottle Back, a 10-year effort by The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) and PepsiCo to marshal the equivalent of nearly a half-billion dollars to reduce the beverage industry’s plastic footprint.  The initiative will go toward the modernization of recycling infrastructure as well as help educate consumers on the value of 100 percent recyclable plastic bottles in several regions of the United States.

This effort is backed by environmental and sustainability leaders World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which is helping measure the industry’s progress in reducing its plastic footprint; The Recycling Partnership, which is funding collection infrastructure to expand access and supporting consumer education so households can recycle better; and Closed Loop Partners, the leading investment firm focused on the development of the circular economy and recycling infrastructure in the United States. 

This landmark initiative in partnership with respected environmental groups builds on the latest commitments by the beverage industry to reduce our use of new plastic, such as support for the federal Recycle and Recover acts to bolster recycling education and improve recycling infrastructure, and the ABA’s joining of the U.S. Plastics Pact to work toward a circular economy for plastics.

“Despite new challenges recycling systems face as a result of the pandemic, the beverage industry is moving forward with our environmental partners and with community leaders on exciting projects to boost the collection of our 100 percent recyclable bottles and cans so they can be remade into new ones,” said Katherine Lugar, president and chief executive officer of the ABA, in a statement. “Every Bottle Back is our commitment to reduce our plastic footprint and ensure our plastic bottles don’t end up as waste in oceans, rivers or landfills.”

The following are highlights as a result of Every Bottle Back from the past year:

  • Invested $3 million in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex in partnership with the Balcones Material Recovery Facility (MRF) to upgrade the recycling infrastructure and boost collection rates. Along with state-of-the-art technology aimed at enhancing load capacity, Every Bottle Back’s investment in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex will provide more than 282,000 households with improved recycling access and consumer education. These investments are expected to yield 30 million pounds of newly recovered, fully recyclable PET plastic over 10 years.
  • Invested $390,500 in Broken Arrow, Okla., to help launch a new curbside recycling program and provide 35,000 households with carts and recycling education materials. Efforts in Broken Arrow are expected to boost collection of recyclable materials by 124 million pounds over 10 years, of which 2.1 million pounds will be aluminum and 5.8 million pounds will be PET plastic, both of which are used to make 100 percent recyclable cans and bottles.
  • Invested $520,000 in Kenosha, Wis., to convert more than 32,000 households from an outdated plastic bag recycling system to 96-gallon, curbside recycling carts.  This modernization will allow carts to be lifted and dumped into trucks via an automated arm, upgrading from the city’s current labor-intensive, manual collection of bags, providing a safer environment for workers. Over the next 10 years, this investment is estimated to yield 54 million pounds of new recyclables, including 2.1 million new pounds of PET plastic and 702,000 pounds of aluminum.

“This initiative is important for improving recycling programs across the United States, and The Recycling Partnership is honored to be a part of this work,” said Keefe Harrison, chief executive officer of The Recycling Partnership. “Every Bottle Back’s efforts are helping make recycling more effective, accessible, and equitable, and we look forward to building on the progress of our continued partnership with the beverage industry.”

Ron Gonen, chief executive officer of Closed Loop Partners, added: “Every Bottle Back showcases how strong partnerships can accelerate investment and progress toward a more circular future. In partnership with the American Beverage Association and others, we are modernizing and optimizing recycling infrastructure in the United States, increasing access to local communities and keeping valuable materials in manufacturing supply chains and out of the natural environment.” 

Sheila Bonini, senior vice president, private sector engagement at the World Wildlife Fund, added: “After one full year of the Every Bottle Back initiative, it’s clear that when companies tackle challenges together, they have the power to make a difference. Our collaboration with the Every Bottle Back initiative, which pairs our expertise through ReSource: Plastic with the beverage industry’s commitment to improving PET recycling in the U.S., is a model for other industries to follow.”

The Every Bottle Back initiative complements other sustainability efforts underway by The Coca-Cola Co., Keurig Dr Pepper and PepsiCo that focus on designing for recyclability. These efforts are increasing the use of recycled materials and improving the collection and recycling of bottles and cans so they can be remade into new ones.  In the coming years, Every Bottle Back and its partners will continue its regional investments and establish new partnerships to further its mission and protect the environment for generations to come.

KEYWORDS: American Beverage Association (ABA) Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) PepsiCo recycling The Coca-Cola Co.

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • top 100 beverage companies

    Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

    For the global beverage market, mergers and acquisitions...
    Beer
  • Chocolate, Strawberry, Vanilla shakes

    Classic flavors provide reliable, consistent results for beverage-makers

    Classic flavors of chocolate, vanilla and strawberry...
    Ingredient Spotlight
    By: Chloe Alverson
  • Free Spirits Instant Bar Bundle

    Lifestyle trends drive growth for non-alcohol category

    As lifestyle trends continue to drive growth for the...
    Wine & Spirits
    By: Lauren Sabetta
Manage My Account
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • eMagazine Subscription
  • Manage My Preferences

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Beverage Industry audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Beverage Industry or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • Fourpeople toasting with cocktails made with low-sugar ingredients, celebrating healthier drink options.
    Sponsored byCargill

    What’s Hot in Sugar Reduction: Beverages

  • chocolate milk
    Sponsored byCargill

    Sweetening the Future for Dairy and Dairy-Alternative Beverages

  • woman pouring a drink
    Sponsored byFFP

    Building a Beverage System: Meeting Consumer Demand for Precision Wellness

Popular Stories

Sting Energy

PepsiCo, Sting Energy unveil global partnership with Formula 1

PepsiCo + poppi

PepsiCo completes acquisition of poppi

people drinking Wynk

Mindful drinking prompts growth for THC beverages

Top 100 Beverage Companies of 2024

Events

April 16, 2025

2025 State of the Industry Series: Alcoholic Beverages

On Demand In Beverage Industry’s annual State of the Industry: The Alcohol Beverage Market, analysts at S&D Insights LLC delve into these trends and how they’re shaping the industry.

June 26, 2025

FAST. FOCUSED. FUELED: Delivering Energy Consumers Can Feel

Learn how to formulate products that deliver the energy experiences that people want, and keep them coming back for more.

View All Submit An Event

Poll

Retail Coffee Segment

What retail coffee segments will fare well into the next year?
View Results Poll Archive

Products

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

Milk and Dairy Foods Nutrition, Processing and Healthy Aging

See More Products

Related Articles

  • recycled content cap on DASANI water bottles

    Beverage players help advance sustainable packaging, recycling efforts

    See More
  • Beverage News graphic

    Swire Coca-Cola highlights sustainable projects

    See More
  • Bacardi Good Spirited initiative

    “Good Spirited” recycling efforts priority for Bacardi

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • trends.jpg

    Trends in Beverage Packaging 1st Edition

  • bigfood.jpg

    Big Food: Critical perspectives on the global growth of the food and beverage industry

  • nanoinbev.jpg

    Nanoengineering in the Beverage Industry 1st Edition

See More Products
×

Elevate your expertise in the beverage marketplace with unparalleled insights and connections.

Join thousands of beverage professionals today. Shouldn’t you know what they know?

JOIN NOW!
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eMagazine
    • eNewsletter
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing