Coca-Cola Wins Award and Sets New Goal

The National Recycling Coalition (NRC) has awarded Atlanta-based Coca-Cola Co. with its annual “Recycling Works!” Award for the soft drink company’s sustainable package design, investment in recycling infrastructure and its goal to recycle or reuse 100 percent of the company’s polyethylene terraphthalate (PET) plastic bottles in the United States.

In 2006, Coca-Cola spent $60 million in an effort to reach the PET recycling goal, which included support of RecycleBank’s curbside recycling program and the construction of a PET recycling facility in Spartanburg, S.C.

In addition to the PET recycling goal, Coca-Cola also has set a long-term goal to recycle 100 percent of the aluminum cans it sells in the United States. According to a report in the Atlanta Business Chronicle, the company expects to recycle more than 100 million pounds each of PET and aluminum by the end of 2008.