I see recycling as a win-win: a win for the environment and a win for the economy. Reusing materials not only helps clean up the environment, it also reduces the need to extract more from our planet and keeps those materials supporting a circular economy.

Whitney brings her many years of experience in stakeholder engagement, project management, creative problem solving, and policy to the Recyclability Solutions team. She most recently served as Director, Public Policy & Government Affairs for The Partnership and worked to implement policies to protect ocean wildlife at Oceana Inc. Prior to that, she was the Associate Director of Federal Affairs at the University of Pennsylvania and the Legislative Director for Congressman John Murtha.

Let Whitney know how you want to engage with public and private stakeholders in the circular economy at wwebber@recyclingpartnership.org

1. Why have you decided to present at Food Contact Conference US 2023?

The Recycling Partnership recently launched an exciting new tool, Recycle Check, a package-specific labeling platform providing up-to-date recycling information directly to U.S. consumers. The dynamic platform offers the ability to enter a zip code or allow location permissions and receive a clear, yes-no answer about whether to recycle a specific item where you are – in seconds. It also enables consumer brands to navigate the complex recycling landscape, reduce label changes, and leverage existing labeling systems. Recycle Check will give consumers confidence about how to recycle product packaging and help to advance the circular economy.

I want to present at the Food Contact Conference to share this dynamic new tool with people interested in food packaging and how to ensure that material doesn’t end up in a landfill but is recycled and reused.  

2. Your presentation is titled Building Trust with Transparency: Reducing Consumer Confusion with Dynamic Recycling Labels. Can you tell us why you felt this topic should be shared with the Smithers Food Contact audience?

Brands using Recycle Check have access to a dynamic solution to easily navigate the complex recycling landscape - reducing risk and preventing costly label changes. Recycle Check can be used as a link on a product webpage or owned application as well as a QR code on a physical packaging label to connect people to relevant information about what is accepted for recycling where they are.

Recycle Check is a platform for all residential recyclables – paper, plastics, metals, and glass. Because of its ability to deliver up-to-date, community-specific information, it is an especially helpful solution for packages that are accepted in some but not all curbside programs across the U.S.   For example, early adopter General Mills will feature Recycle Check with the How2Recycle® label on its Pillsbury Frozen Pie Crust packaging, allowing consumers to check local recycling availability for all package components by scanning a single link. Because aluminum pie trays are only accepted in approximately 40 percent of residential curbside collection programs, the QR code label provides clarity on where the item is accepted for recycling. 

3. What industry challenges, technical or otherwise, do you feel prevent progress and growth? How does an event like this help to address those challenges?

The fragmented recycling system in the U.S. creates high variability in what is collected and recycled locally – making recyclability communication difficult. When The Partnership conducted research into consumer beliefs and perceptions about recycling information on labels, 71% of consumers said they wish there were an easier way to get info on what can and cannot be recycled in their community.

Increasingly, changing requirements for recyclability claims are emerging as new state-level packaging policies advance. These various standards aim to more accurately capture what is recyclable, where, and we want to be part of the solution. Recycle Check allows companies to communicate local recycling information that is relevant for each person where they are. 

4. What are some of the most interesting and/or innovative solutions that are impacting your work at this time?

Better, more comprehensive recycling data and the ability to deliver dynamic label solutions. Recycle Check is also designed to complement existing labeling systems; The Partnership is collaborating with organizations like GreenBlue and the Consumer Brands Association to further connect consumers to local data.  

5. What are you most looking forward to at the conference?

Spreading the word about this awesome new tool!