Emphasising the importance of beverage container deposit programmes

Emphasising the importance of beverage container deposit programmes

Trade associations representing the USA’s glass, aluminium and plastic (PET) industries have joined together to emphasise the critical role that the recycled bottles and cans redeemed and returned through the country’s 10 beverage container deposit programmes play in the supply chains of essential packaging.

Federal guidance issued by the Department of Homeland Security’s CISA Division, along with dozens of state Executive Orders, have long recognised the food and beverage industries, along with their packaging and supply chain partners, as ‘essential’. Recycled bottles and cans, similar to raw materials and other inputs, are part of this supply chain for food and beverage packaging commodities.

A joint statement confirms that as the food and beverage industries have ramped up their production to meet unprecedented demand, a strong, dependable supply chain of recycled material is essential in order to meet their packaging needs. “Our growing industry coalition has reached out to leadership in several states with beverage container deposit programmes, urging safe redemption and return options be made available for consumers and that these options be made clear to residents through updated online resources. With nationwide redemption rates for these programmes north of 70%, consumers have shown a strong desire to return, redeem and support manufacturing industries and their supply chains” the statement continues.

With these programmes putting Covid-19 safety measures in place for their workforce and the consumer, we are encouraging respective state agencies to post accessible information (in addition to the accompanying, consumer-facing infographic) on redemption location options, hours and any other measures being taken during this temporary timeframe.

Scott DeFife, President of the Glass Packaging Institute, commented: “Glass food jars and bottles that consumers see today are, on average, made of one-third recycled glass. The majority of that recovered material comes from the 10 bottle deposit states, due to the high volume of quality glass created by their programmes. This recycled material is a key element of the essential food and beverage packaging manufacturing supply chain. It is imperative that we work to make redemption programmes fully operational and resume the flow of quality material before disruptions occur that impact consumers' access to the products on local grocery shelves.

www.gpi.org

Published: 
21/04/2020

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