Dearborn County Solid Waste Management District receives top award
DENTON, Texas; Feb. 27, 2024 – The Carton Council announced today 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.
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About the Carton Council
The Carton Council is composed of four leading carton manufacturers, Elopak, Pactiv Evergreen, SIG, and Tetra Pak. Formed in 2009, the Carton Council works to deliver long-term collaborative solutions to divert valuable cartons from the landfill. Through a united effort, the Carton Council is committed to building a sustainable infrastructure for carton recycling in the U.S. and works toward its goals of adding access to carton recycling, as well as increased recycling rates, nationwide. For more information, visit RecycleCartons.com.
About Food and Beverage Cartons
Food and beverage cartons are fiber-based packages that contain some of the highest quality fiber available in the recycling steam. There are two types of cartons: aseptic and gable top. Aseptic cartons are shelf-stable and are often used to store products like broth, soups, juices or milk for long periods without the need for preservatives or refrigeration. Gable top cartons require refrigeration and are often considered the traditional milk carton.