Community Partnership | Carolinas
Example of artwork that can be used for resident communications.
FPI is working closely with local material recovery facilities (MRFs) and paper mills in North and South Carolina to add paper cups as an acceptable commodity for residential curbside recycling. This effort includes understanding operational and equipment setup, end market availability and cost effectiveness.
As FPI engages each MRF and program, there may be additional opportunities to add or promote foodservice items as acceptable commodities for recycling, such as plastic cups and containers, molded fiber egg cartons, paper bags, pizza boxes and other paper containers.
FPI will be partnering with local communities to launch educational campaigns informing residents about the acceptance of clean and empty paper cups for recycling. The community education campaigns will utilize tactics that inform and engage residents. Campaigns can have a mix of press releases, launch events, social media, informational videos, digital ads, mailers, billboards, flyers and other tactics. FPI works with each community to find the appropriate campaign mix and develop communication materials based on research and best practices.
NEW HANOVER COUNTY, N.C.
The first partnership will be with New Hanover County, North Carolina, with over 97,000 households. Collected recyclables are sent to Sonoco Recycling for processing. Recovered material is supplied to the Sonoco paper mill in Hartsville, South Carolina, where it is converted into new products, advancing the circular economy in the region.
CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C.
FPI worked with the Republic materials recovery facility (MRF) in Conover, North Carolina, to add paper cups as an acceptable commodity for residential curbside recycling. This effort included understanding operational and equipment setup, end market availability and cost effectiveness.
Catawba County, with over 63,000 households, added paper cups as an acceptable commodity for recycling. The county’s recycling program was already accepting foodservice packaging items, such as paper bags, pizza boxes, and plastic cups and containers.
With support from an FPI communications grant, county residents will see messaging reminding them that all recyclables should be clean and empty when placed in their recycling carts via flyers, brochures, a customized educational video, social media and digital advertisements.
Once the paper cups enter the MRF, they will be baled with other paper to be converted into new paper products that consumers use every day, like paper towels, toilet paper, napkins and other paper products.
Catawba County is the second community in North Carolina to expand its curbside recycling program and add paper cups thanks to an FPI partnership. FPI is also working with other stakeholders in the region to expand the reach of these additions and the educational campaign.
Stay tuned for more news on additional MRFs and communities that add paper cups to residential curbside recycling programs in the Carolinas.
