Recycling Becomes Big Business, Aiding Environment

States and local governments are finally getting serious about the issue of recycling and more companies inthe United States are accepting the sustainability challenge to not only reduce waste but aid their bottom line. This development of what is termed "extended producer brought about by cash-strapped municipalities and states looking to reduce the cost of throwing away mountains of garbage at great expense.

It has long been known that almost 95 percent of aluminum is recycled, but what is new is that plastic bottles and other materials are now also being widely recycled. Coca-Cola now has its own subsidiary, Coca-Cola Recycling L.L.C., which is attempting to reach a stated goal of recycling 100 per cent of its cans and bottles in North America by 2015, and fifty per cent in the rest of the world.

Starbucks, long known for its sustainability efforts, knows that recycling lowers operating costs, saves money, and builds brand reputation at no cost to the marketing budget. Whole Foods has encouraged customers to return margarine tubs and yogurt containers to the store for collection, collecting 11 million containers in 2011.

The next development is for states and municipalities to mandate what is termed extended producer responsibility, requiring companies who manufacture containers to require its suppliers to set up container-collection systems for consumers of their products. It remains to be seen if and when such a system might be implemented.