September 1, 2009 - Over 50 U.S. Glass Manufacturing Plants and Facilities to Hold Events for Recycling Awareness, September 21 - 27

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2009

Contact: Kristen LeKander
Kristen@Lindberggrp.com
(703) 778 - 7644

Over 50 U.S. Glass Manufacturing Plants and Facilities to Hold Events for Recycling Awareness, September 21 - 27

Activities to Be Held in 22 States for Glass Packaging Institute’s Recycle Glass Week

Alexandria, Virginia, September 1, 2009 - The Glass Packaging Institute’s (GPI) Recycle Glass Week kicks off on September 21st with 51 events to promote recycling awareness at glass container manufacturing plants and towns across the country.

“Glass manufacturing companies, with the support of thousands of plant employees across the nation, will be holding events to encourage glass container recycling during Recycle Glass Week,” says GPI president, Joseph Cattaneo. “We are encouraging consumers to recycle their glass bottles and jars to help reduce the amount of recyclable materials entering landfills and help create a ‘greener’ future.”

Some event highlights:

• Anchor Glass will be holding events in Winchester, IN; Salem, NJ; Henryetta, OK; Elmira, NY; Jacksonville, FL; Shakopee, MN; Warner Robins, GA; Lawrenceburg, IN; and Tampa, FL during Recycle Glass Week to promote recycling awareness in these plant communities.
• O-I is holding events at each of its 21 plants across the country. Partnering with the City of Muskogee, OK, O-I will hold a live event at the local recycling center to encourage glass recycling. And, in Oakland, CA, and Danville, VA, O-I will be educating local elementary students on the benefits of glass recycling.
• Saint-Gobain Containers’ glass committees have a goal to visit 100 elementary schools and/or local children’s groups in 16 glass plant communities during Recycle Glass week with the goal of reaching out to over 10,000 students with their glass container educational awareness program featuring “Captain Cullet” and “Little Gob.”

Consumers can visit www.gpi.org for updates and events in their area. Activities will be added daily as Recycle Glass Week approaches.

During Recycle Glass Week, consumers will also get four chances to meet “Little Bottle,” the event’s mascot, in New York City. People can recycle with Little Bottle at the Madison Square Park Concert Series on two dates: Saturday, September 19th and Saturday, September 26th. “Little Bottle” will also be making an appearance outside the Today Show at Rockefeller Plaza on Monday, September 21st. Additionally, he will be on the streets of NYC on Sunday, September 20th for photo ops with passersby.

Later in the week, on Wednesday, September 23rd, GPI recognizes its “Friends of Glass,” those companies, organizations and people making significant and innovative efforts to recycle glass containers and create glass-recycling awareness. Get ready for the Clear Choice Awards announcement on Tuesday, September 22nd, and see which glass package designs reign supreme for 2009. On Thursday, September 24th, GPI will announce the winners of its 2009 Recycle Glass University Student YouTube Competition.

“Consumers continue to ask for ways they can reduce their impact on the environment, and through Recycle Glass Week, we are pleased to offer people many opportunities to participate in glass recycling activities as one way they can save energy,” says Cattaneo.

Creating more awareness about the environmental benefits of glass container recycling, GPI members hope to help the glass container industry reach a nationwide goal of 50 percent recycled content in the manufacture of new glass bottles and jars by 2013. Doubling the U.S. glass container recycling rate (28% in 2007) would allow manufacturers to use 50% recycled glass to make new glass containers, saving enough energy to power 21,978 homes for one year and removing 181,550 tons of waste from landfills every month.

Today, glass is the proven form of packaging for those who are looking for sustainability, purity, and recyclability. Glass is made from all-natural, sustainable raw materials and it can be recycled again and again without loss of quality or purity. Reuse of post-consumer recycled glass containers minimizes consumption of raw materials, lessens the industry’s demand for energy, and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

For more information on upcoming Recycle Glass Week activities and events, please go to www.gpi.org.

The Glass Packaging Institute (GPI) is the trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. www.gpi.org

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