U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation Rolls out New Project to Increase Recycling and Recovery

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation (USCCF) has launched Beyond 34: Recycling and Recovery for A New Economy, a project focused on breaking through the current 34 percent recycling barrier in the U.S. With this project, USCCF will provide a scalable model to help communities, cities and businesses improve recycling and recovery rates and achieve their circular economy and sustainability goals.

“The circular economy is a huge opportunity for the business community and for the American economy,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, in a press release. “Beyond 34 will help accelerate recycling and recovery solutions that enhance business performance, competitiveness and innovation while stimulating sustainable economic growth and development at the local level.”

To kick off the project, USCCF will identify a U.S. city-region that demonstrates a high degree of readiness for recycling and reuse system development in January 2017. From there, specific materials and products that will be used in the pilot will be announced and the rest of the project will roll out in phases.

“Our hope is that this project can provide a blueprint for companies and communities to successfully recycle and reuse materials that will drive positive economic, environmental and social outcomes,” said Jennifer Gerholdt, senior director of the environment program for the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Corporate Citizenship Center, in a press release. “Together, we can achieve a circular economy by putting more recovered valuable material back into global supply chains.”