Alcoa & Alcoa Foundation Provide Recycling Tools to Help Americans Protect the Planet and Earn Cash in Recognition of America Recycles Day, November 15
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Recycling is not only good for the planet, but good for your wallet too. According to the Aluminum Association, Americans earn nearly $1 billion a year from recycling aluminum cans, yet nearly another $1 billion worth of aluminum cans are still tossed into landfills. As national sponsors of America Recycles Day on November 15, Alcoa and Alcoa Foundation are providing tools on its recycling website to make it easier for Americans to recycle.
The website is loaded with ideas on how to turn cans into treasure—from a free Aluminate iPhone app that helps users set and track financial recycling goals, to a turnkey toolkit that provides steps for planning a recycling campaign to raise money for charity.
“Increased recycling can also be a job creator,” said Beth Schmitt, Director of Recycling Programs for Alcoa. “According to the Container Recycling Institute, for every thousand tons of beverage containers recycled, between 1.5 and 7 jobs can be created by private industry. So recycling those energy-rich natural resources not only helps us become energy independent, but it also creates private sector jobs that we desperately need in this country.”
While it’s simple to recycle, it’s not always easy. In some communities, consumers don’t have access to recycling bins or know where to find recycling centers. That’s why the website also includes a recycling center location search tool and a list of states offering recycling bins through Alcoa’s Recycling Bin Donation Program.
“In 2008, Alcoa took up the charge to raise recycling rates in the U.S. to 75 percent by 2015, and we can only make it happen by getting everyone involved,” said Paula Davis, President, Alcoa Foundation. “Our partnership with Keep America Beautiful’s America Recycles Day is a perfect way to engage Americans, especially the next generation, in recycling.”
To spread the word to students, for the first time ever, Alcoa is also sponsoring America Recycles Day recycling events at college football game tailgating parties in November. Participating schools receive a tailgating recycling starter kit that includes t-shirts, banners, buttons and 500 recycling bags.
To further capitalize on the enthusiasm of football fans, Alcoa Foundation also sponsors “Let’s Tackle Recycling,” a partnership at locations across the U.S. In Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, Alcoa Foundation partners with the Pennsylvania Resources Council. The program has increased the rate of recycling at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh and Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia by giving recycling bags to football fans as they enter parking lots.
Aluminum is infinitely recyclable. It takes 95 percent less energy to recycle it than to manufacture new metal from scratch—making aluminum one of the most sustainable metals.
Visit Alcoa’s recycling website, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get recycling tips throughout the month of November in recognition of America Recycles Day.
About Alcoa Recycling
Alcoa and the aluminum industry have a goal to increase can recycling rates in America to 75% by 2015. To hit this goal, Alcoa and the Alcoa Foundation have distributed more than 125,000 recycling bins, launched our Make an Impact calculator to help families live more sustainably, created the Aluminate™ recycling app and, in the last five years, invested nearly $3.8 million in community recycling programs across the country. If every American recycled just one more can per week, we would reach our goal.
About Alcoa Foundation
Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US$436 million. Founded more than 50 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$530 million since 1952. In 2010, Alcoa Foundation contributed nearly US$20 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, focusing on promoting environmental stewardship, enabling economic and social sustainability, and preparing tomorrow’s leaders through education and learning. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers, who in 2010 gave more than 720,000 service hours. Through the company’s signature Month of Service (October) program, Alcoa employees share their energy, passion and purpose to make a difference in our communities. In 2010, a record 49 percent of Alcoans took part in nearly 1,000 Month of Service events across 24 countries, reaching 59,000 children, serving 17,000 meals, planting 16,000 trees and supporting 3,000 nonprofit organizations. For more information about Alcoa Foundation, please access www.alcoa.com/foundation.
About Alcoa
Alcoa (NYSE:AA) is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 120 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 10 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 59,000 people in 31 countries across the world. More information can be found at www.alcoa.com.
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