KFC stores roll-out a new recycling initiative

Posted by AFN Staff Writers on 19th November 2012

Despite over 90 per cent of Australian householders being active recyclers, Australian households and businesses are sending almost 22 million tonnes of material to landfill each year, with 31 per cent of this from commercial and industrial enterprises, according to the Australian Packaging Covenant.

New recycling systems have been installed at 59 KFC restaurants in NSW for public use, providing away-from-home recycling opportunities for an estimated 30 million customer visits each year.

KFC is the first quick service restaurant to participate in the national recycling initiative, Do the Right Thing, Use the Right Bin, funded and supported by the Australian Packaging Covenant, Closed Loop Recycling and the Australian Food and Grocery Council’s Packaging Stewardship Forum.

The Australian Packaging Covenant (APC) – Australia’s product stewardship system for consumer packaging – kicked off National Recycling Week on the 12 November 2012, at the launch of new recycling systems at selected KFC restaurants throughout New South Wales.

Since the APC has been in operation, the Australian packaging industry says that recycling rate of consumer packaging has increased from 39 per cent in 2003 to 63.1 per cent in 2011. In 2011, there was 36.4 per cent less consumer packaging being disposed of to landfill in than in 2003.

Stan Moore, CEO of the APC said, “The Australian Packaging Covenant is proud to be able to collaborate with industry, and facilitate this response to the community’s desire to recycle and reduce littering”.

National recycling week finished yesterday, running from the 12^th to the 18^th November, 2012.

“National Recycling Week is a fantastic opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved to increase recycling rates by everyone working together – industry, government and consumers – and how we can continue to collaborate and build on these achievements” Mr Moore said.

The Australian Packaging Covenant aims to ensure that all involved in the supply chain play their part in the design, recovery and recycling of consumer packaging, and takes a holistic approach to inform packaging decisions.