Letter to the editor: 'Every Bottle Back' aids Pittsburgh recycling

Pittsburgh has long been a hub for innovation and technology. What started as the advancement of Pittsburgh’s manufacturing industry in the 1970s and ’80s has evolved today into a world-class research and development sector. At the Pennsylvania Beverage Association, it is our goal to catch Pittsburgh’s recycling program up with the times.

That is why the beverage industry invested $650,000 through its Every Bottle Back initiative. With this investment, free curbside recycling containers were provided to 50,000 households to modernize the city’s recycling infrastructure. In total, this investment is expected to yield nearly 25 million pounds of new recyclable materials over 10 years. That includes nearly 1 million new pounds of PET plastic and 370,500 pounds of aluminum. This will help Pittsburgh move closer to its “Bag Free in 2023” goal and will help the beverage industry collect more of our 100% recyclable bottles and cans, so they can be remade as intended.

The Every Bottle Back commitment from America’s leading beverage companies, along with sustainability leaders at The Recycling Partnership, truly shows the power of public-private partnerships. And Pittsburgh’s local beverage producers and distributors are proud to be part of this impactful initiative.

This is a vision worthy of Pittsburgh’s famous tagline: “Pittsburgh. Mighty. Beautiful.” The Pennsylvania Beverage Association is committed to doing our part to build a more sustainable future through the Every Bottle Back initiative. It’s a win-win for our environment and for families who want better recycling.

Tony Crisci

Harrisburg

The writer is executive director of the Pennsylvania Beverage Association.