Caltrans, American Chemistry Council and Keep California Beautiful Announce Partnership for Roadside Rest Area Recycling
(Sacramento, CA – November 10, 2009) Citing the need for all Californians to work together to reduce litter and keep California clean, state government, the private sector and a nonprofit have formed a partnership to help increase the recycling of plastics and other recyclable materials that are commonly discarded at rest areas. The goal is to help keep recyclable plastics and other materials off of California’s streets and roadways, out of its waterways – and instead get them into recycling bins.
"One of the goals of Caltrans is stewardship - to preserve and enhance California's resources and assets," said Caltrans Director Randell Iwasaki. "Caltrans is committed to keeping California’s environment clean and pursuing every opportunity to recycle. This partnership will educate the public on the importance of recycling."
Coinciding with the celebration of the 12th Annual “America Recycles Day (Sunday, November 15th, 2009),” the partnership is being launched with the placement of new recycle bins and corresponding educational signage at the Caltrans H. Dana Bowers Roadside Rest Area in Marin County, just north of the Golden Gate Bridge. The partnership will expand to other Caltrans rest stop locations in 2009-2010.
"Plastic – including some of the most readily recyclable products in the world – does not belong as litter on our roads or in our waterways,” said Steve Russell, Vice President, Plastics Department, American Chemistry Council. “We know Californians want to recycle more. This new partnership highlights our commitment to work with government officials and nonprofit groups to help make our environment cleaner.”
Until now, there has not been a widespread campaign that makes it easy for travelers to recycle and at the same time discourages littering. More than 100 million motorists visit California’s 87 roadside rest areas every year.
“Keep California Beautiful is excited to support this public-private partnership,” said KCB Executive Director Christine Flowers-Ewing. “These new recycling bins will allow travelers to help us work towards our goal of making California the cleanest state in the nation.”
The “Plastics. Too Valuable to Waste. Recycle.SM” program with Caltrans is being launched on the heels of another successful partnership between the California Department of Parks and Recreation, ACC and Keep California Beautiful. This partnership has placed 529 recycling bins (204 permanent bins on State beaches and 325 term-limited bins on county/city beaches) at 19 coastal locations in the San Diego, Los Angeles, San Luis Obispo, Monterey and Santa Cruz areas. For more information, visit the partnership’s newly launched web site at www.2valuable2waste.com.
More than 80 percent of U.S. households have access to a recycling program, be it curbside collection or a community drop-off center. While there are approximately 2,100 certified recycling centers in California, many Californians still treat plastics as trash instead of a valuable material that is readily recyclable.
