The Recycling Partnership is pleased to announce that MeadWestvaco (MWV), a global packaging company with headquarters in Richmond, VA, has joined as its newest member. “The timing couldn’t be better to welcome MWV onboard,” says The Recycling Partnership Executive Director Keefe Harrison, “we have started work in their hometown of Richmond this year, and we will be building upon that work with our next round of community partnership, which will be selected in May via our RFP process. MWV understands the important role they’re playing by joining our team and helping to reach more communities quicker.”
MWV found natural alignment with the Recycling Partnership’s goal to advance recycling across the U.S. through targeted actions to improve recycling in communities. “The Recycling Partnership’s strategic and thoughtful approach to advancing the state of recycling through community-based efforts is just what is needed to move the needle in a meaningful way”, said Rhea Hale of MWV’s global product stewardship team. “Design for recyclability, investing in collection and sorting infrastructure, and supporting end markets through the use of recycled material are all essential elements to creating a successful system.”
The Recycling Partnership anticipates that over the next 10 years in Richmond alone, the recycling rate will increase 90 percent, resulting in 65,500 tons of new material collected, which translates into 340 million gallons of water saved and 1.8 million MBTUs of energy saved, with an economic value of $6.5 million.
The Recycling Partnership has established a cost sharing model that will advance recycling in 200 communities by 2025, creating $500 million worth of value to the recycling system, and generate 100 million new tons of recyclables. Visit http://www.recyclecurbside.org/ for more information.