May 14 2008
Curbside recycling has become a convenient and popular way for the public, businesses and environmentalists to reduce their dependency on landfills. It reduces waste in landfills and increases the amount of materials being recycled into new products. On May 2, 2008, the City of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, announced it would begin accepting rigid paperboard cans, made by global packaging leader, Sonoco, and other manufacturers, in its Blue Box curbside recycling program. The City of Hamilton is encouraging its citizens to take another step in environmental stewardship by recycling these cans.
It is estimated that about 5,000 tons of the rigid paperboard containers will be sold throughout Ontario and about 500 tons will be recovered initially. Sonoco rigid paperboard cans are used for a variety of everyday products, including refrigerated dough, frozen juices, powdered drink mixes, baby formula, chips, nuts, shortening and powdered cleansers. Because Sonoco’s rigid paperboard cans are already an environmentally responsible product, made primarily of recycled paperboard, they fit well into existing curbside programs. The initial inclusion of the container into the Ontario Blue Box was initiated by Toronto in 2007. In addition to Hamilton and Toronto, other municipalities and regions in and around the Greater Toronto Area are in various stages of introducing the container into their respective programs.
“We are excited that the City of Hamilton is now accepting rigid paperboard in their Blue Box recycling program,” says Glyn Pinkney, account manager for Sonoco. “Recycling is a shared responsibility among businesses, cities and the public. Incorporating these cans into the program makes it easier for the public to participate in reducing waste in landfills.”
Sonoco is committed to using as much recycled material as possible in each product. In fact, 60 percent of the raw materials used in all Sonoco products are recovered materials. Sonoco’s rigid paperboard cans average 50-percent-recycled content. The paperboard used is 100-percent-recycled, while the steel ends contain between 25 to 30 percent recycled content.
“The recycling of Sonoco’s paperboard cans has been implemented in curbside recycling programs in both Canada and the United States,” says Derek Trader of Sonoco. “We are excited about the City of Hamilton’s commitment to join in this effort. Together, we can all work to decrease waste in landfills.”
As an incentive to recycle, the City of Hamilton is hosting the Gold Box Contest for the community. Those households that divert more than 65 percent of their garbage to recycling will receive two Gold Box recycling containers to replace their Blue Box. In addition to the two Gold Boxes, the highest diverter will receive a check for $140 to honor their achievement. With packages like the rigid paperboard cans, Sonoco is making it easy for consumers to recycle and take one more step toward protecting the environment.