The Carton Council announced the recipients of its 2023 Community Education Award program, designed to incentivize greater resident education surrounding recycling, with a focus on food and beverage carton recycling. Eleven organizations from across the U.S. are receiving $2,000 for their resident education communications. Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District of Aurora, IN, will receive an additional $3,000 for outstanding implementation of communication efforts, going above and beyond expectations.
“The Carton Council recognizes that at the local level, communities are often strapped for resources,” said Larine Urbina, vice president of communications for the Carton Council. “This program was created to help with resident education, providing participants with tools and extra incentives to refresh and enhance their recycling outreach.”
In addition to Dearborn County, participating organizations included:
• Athens-Clarke County Solid Waste; Athens, GA
• Public Works Department of the City of Chester, PA
• City of High Point, NC
• City of Peoria, AZ
• Eco-Cycle; Boulder, CO
• Henderson County Solid Waste; Hendersonville, NC
• Napa Recycling & Waste Services; Napa, CA
• Solid Waste Agency of Lake County (SWALCO); Gurnee, IL
• Village of Ridgewood Division of Recycling; Ridgewood, NJ
• Village of Romeoville, IL
“We are thrilled to have engaged with the Carton Council in enhancing community knowledge about recycling, including food and beverage cartons,” said Stefanie Hoffmeier, outreach coordinator at Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District. “Each informed resident represents a vital step towards improving environmental progress in our community. This is not just about recycling; it’s about empowering our residents to make sustainable choices that echo far beyond today.”
Participating communities had to conduct a minimum of three education activities in 2023, including updating their websites to define carton recycling accurately and clearly, generating articles and advertisements promoting their local recycling programs, sharing recycling education content across social media platforms, or organizing community events and tours.
The Carton Council looks forward to continuing to support local efforts for growing recycling in 2024. For more information, please visit RecycleCartons.com.