CMI is excited to collaborate with local partners again next year to increase the amount of beverage cans recycled, generate more money for charity and local residents, and turn more used beverage cans into new cans. CMI was proud to collaborate closely with many local partners on the recycling effort. These partners included the sustainable events non-profit Grounds Krewe, the City of New Orleans, the local tourism group New Orleans & Company, EMR and a variety of local breweries. A full list of partners is on the Recycle Dat website (ready.nola.gov/mardi-gras/ recycling/). The effort has attracted media attention. The Washington Post covered the recycling effort and also CMI’s Vice President of Sustainability Scott Breen appeared in a segment on the New Orleans NBC affiliate WDSU’s morning news show. This effort is one of many activities that CMI is undertaking to make progress toward the ambitious aluminum beverage can recycling rate targets set by CMI beverage can manufacturer members (Ardagh Metal Packaging, Canpack, Crown Holdings, and Envases) and aluminum can sheet producer members (Constellium, Kaiser Aluminum, Novelis, and Tri-Arrows Aluminum). The targets involve going from a 45 percent recycling rate in 2020 to a 70 percent rate by 2030, 80 percent by 2040, and 90 percent or more by 2050. CMI published an Aluminum Beverage Can Recycling Primer and Roadmap that details how the can industry got to the leading position as most recycled beverage container the United States, and how via four pillars of action it’s going to achieve the new heights it set. The Mardi Gras effort fits with the pillar to increase and improve household and away from home recycling. The other pillars are new, well-designed deposit systems, improving proper sortation at material recovery facilities, and more people understanding the can’s sustainability advantages.
Scott Breen of Can Manufacturers Institute promoting the Mardi Gras recycling initiative on the NBC affiliate WDSU morning show.
Two volunteers with the specially designed backpacks where paradegoers could insert their empty used beverage cans for recycling.
Two volunteers with the used beverage cans and beads collected from engaging volunteers using an oversized shopping cart.
Scott Breen is vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI). CMI represents U.S. metal can manufacturers and their suppliers. His responsibilities include promoting the can as a sustainable/circular package, advocating for federal and state legislation and regulation that reflect the can’s sustainability advantages, and leading the industry’s efforts to build upon the can industry’s leading recycling rates. Scott’s roles prior to CMI were associate manager of the Sustainability and Circular Economy Program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation and attorney-adviser at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Along with his position at CMI, Scott also explores various aspects of sustainability as creator and co-host of the podcast Sustainability Defined. Sustainability Defined has monthly episodes that reach thousands of listeners across more than 100 countries and all 50 states.
FUNDAMETALS Newsletter
Q1 2023 [7]
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