International Bottled Water Association | Immediate Release | June 16, 2010
Bottled Water Industry to Establish Innovative Recycling Initiative All Consumer Product Companies Would Assist in Community Recycling Efforts
Alexandria, VA — On Friday, June 11, 2010, the International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) Board of Directors endorsed an innovative framework for a Material Recovery Program that can serve as the blueprint for local communities to increase recycling through the support and participation of all stakeholders. According to Joseph K. Doss, IBWA President and CEO, “The Material Recovery Program framework will assist in developing new, comprehensive solutions to help manage solid waste in communities throughout in the United States by having all consumer product companies work together with state and local governments to improve recycling and waste collection efforts.”
IBWA’s Material Recovery Program framework supports state-authorized public/private corporations that:
Establish in each community specific recycling goals to increase recycling access and rates.
Generate revenue for grants from annual consumer product company producer responsibility fees and local/state government contributions.
Fund local government recycling infrastructure improvements and consumer education programs.
Dissolve when local recycling goals have been met.
IBWA is a strong supporter of recycling, which plays a critical role in reducing waste and reusing valuable packaging materials. IBWA believes that increasing the recycling rates for all consumer products and packaging should be a top priority for all companies whose product or packaging is ultimately discarded. Locally run, comprehensive recycling programs are the best method of cost-effectively diverting solid waste from landfills and increasing recycling of consumer products and packaging.
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Contact:
TOM LAURIA
703-647-4609 or 703-887-4056 (cell)
The International Bottled Water Association (IBWA) is the authoritative source of information about all types of bottled waters, including spring, mineral, purified, artesian, and sparkling. Founded in 1958, IBWA’s membership includes U.S. and international bottlers, distributors and suppliers. IBWA is committed to working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates bottled water as a packaged food product, to set comprehensive and stringent standards for safe, high-quality bottled water products.
In addition to FDA regulations, IBWA member bottlers must adhere to the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice, which mandates additional standards and practices that in some cases are more stringent than federal and state regulations. A key feature of the IBWA Bottled Water Code of Practice is a mandatory annual plant inspection by an independent, third-party organization.
IBWA is proud to be a partner with Keep America Beautiful and a supporter of Drink Up, an initiative of former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which encourages Americans to drink more water more often – whether from the tap, a filter, or in a bottle. Choosing water is always the healthy choice.
