Adding to a growing list of large scale recycling partnerships, international Trenton-based recycling company TerraCycle and early childhood nutrition leader Gerber, have partnered to help eliminate waste by re-purposing baby packaging. Rooted in Gerber and TerraCycle’s shared values around eliminating waste, the partnership supports the recovery of hard-to-recycle baby food packaging on a national scale.   Participation in the program is easy – parents can simply sign up on the Gerber Recycling Program page at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/gerber and mail in packaging that is not municipally recyclable using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.   “Through this free recycling program, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging,” said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. “By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging.”   As an added incentive, for every pound of packaging waste sent to TerraCycle through the Gerber Recycling Program, collectors can earn $1 to donate to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice.   Gerber believes the baby food industry should help create a world where babies thrive, and this partnership is one of many steps toward its goal to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025. “We’re thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as part of our broader sustainable packaging efforts,” said Gerber President and CEO Bill Partyka. “We know every parent’s top priority is to ensure a healthy, happy future for their baby. Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby’s future that much brighter.”   Gerber was founded on the ambition to give babies the best start in life. That’s why their work doesn’t stop at nutrition. As the world’s largest baby food company, Gerber has upheld some of the industry’s strongest agricultural standards through its Clean Field Farming™ practices, and is committed to reducing energy use, water use and carbon emissions in its factories.   The Gerber Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. For more information on TerraCycle’s recycling programs, visit www.TerraCycle.com.

Nestlé has announced that its early childhood nutrition brand Gerber has partnered with TerraCycle to launch a programme in the US aimed at recycling certain 'hard-to-recycle' baby food packaging.   The initiative is part of Nestlé’s goal to make 100% of its packaging recyclable or reusable by 2025.   Gerber president and CEO, Bill Partyka, commented, "We’re thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as part of our broader sustainable packaging efforts.   "We know every parent’s top priority is to ensure a healthy, happy future for their baby. Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby’s future that much brighter."  

The Collection Programme

  The free-of-cost collection programme requires customers to sign up on the 'Gerber Recycling Program' page.   Customers then use a prepaid shipping label to mail baby food packaging that is not recyclable.   The plastic collected is then cleaned and melted into hard plastic for making new recycled products.   TerraCycle CEO and founder, Tom Szaky, said, "By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging."

31 Oct 2019 --- Early childhood nutrition Nestlé-subsidiary Gerber is partnering with recycling specialist TerraCycle to involve consumers in a free recycling program. Caregivers will now be able to mail in packaging that is not municipally recyclable using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. Additionally, for every pound of packaging waste sent to TerraCycle through the Gerber Recycling Program, collectors can earn US$1 to donate to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice. This move comes as companies are under increasing pressure – both from consumers and at a policy level – to reduce their impact on the environment.   “It would be more effective to design all packaging to be recycled by existing waste streams and there is currently a number of baby food product packaging that can be accepted curbside. Unfortunately, given the limitations on what is accepted at municipal facilities and the trend to develop packaging that is disposable and lightweight, that is not the case for every product,” Sue Kauffman, North American Public Relations Manager at TerraCycle, tells PackagingInsights.   In an effort to combat this issue, Gerber and TerraCycle partnered to create the Gerber Recycling program to divert all baby food packaging, outside of what is accepted curbside, from the landfill, Kauffman adds. The shipments will be coordinated through UPS, which Kauffman describes as being one of the most sustainable shipping companies in the world. When the baby food packaging waste is returned to TerraCycle the shipments are bundled into existing routes that UPS is already driving, so no new routes are created to fulfill this recycling program, she explains.   “Through this program, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging,” adds TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. “By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children but also with how they dispose of the packaging.”   Recycling is in part about economics – the value of the raw materials collected in the municipal programs needs to exceed the cost of collecting them. In the case of hard-to-recycle items, the cost associated in processing complex packaging exceeds its value. Kauffman explains that it is the trend of sending baby food packaging that does not fall into the accepted waste parameters at a municipal facility to a landfill that the partnership aims to counter.   Gerber highlights that this partnership is one of many steps toward its goal to achieve 100 percent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025. The Gerber Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization.   Customers can sign up to participate through the Gerber Recycling Program webpage. The companies expect that the program will be successful in terms of uptake level. Since its founding over 15 years ago, Terracycle has recycled more than seven billion pieces of waste that consumers have voluntarily sent.   By Katherine Durrell

20 Nassau Sold to Hotel Developer

An iconic office building at the corner of Nassau and Chambers streets has been sold to a hotel developer, according to reporting by Planet Princeton as well as property records. The building at 20 Nassau Street — pictured above —is home to more than 100 small businesses including doctors, psychologists, social workers, consultants, startups, lawyers, architects, and various others. The building has retailers and restaurants, such as Jammin’ Crepes, at street level. Property records indicate the building was sold on October 24 to a company called GPNJ, and Planet Princeton reported the contact was listed as Benjamin Weprin, the owner of Graduate Hotels, a company that builds nostalgia-themed hotels in college towns. A New York Times profile described Weprin as a swaggering “brotelier” whose 11 existing hotels cater to alumni, college-shopping families, and helicopter parents.

Terracycle Partners with Gerber

Baby food manufacturer Gerber has partnered with Trenton-based international recycling company TerraCycle to provide a way to recycle packaging that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Some of Gerber’s products are not recyclable under some municipal recycling programs. Parents can sign up on the Gerber Recycling Program page at www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/gerber and mail in packaging that is not municipally recyclable using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products. “Through this free recycling program, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging,” said TerraCycle CEO and founder Tom Szaky. “By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging.” For every pound of packaging waste sent to TerraCycle through the Gerber Recycling Program, collectors can earn $1 to donate to a non-profit, school, or charitable organization of their choice. “We’re thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as part of our broader sustainable packaging efforts,” said Gerber president and CEO Bill Partyka. “Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby’s future that much brighter.” The Gerber Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. TerraCycle, 121 New York Avenue, Trenton 08638. 609-393-4252. Tom Szaky, CEO. www.terracycle.com.

Deaths

Rita Pintimalli, 89, on October 24. Together with her husband, she owned and operated Country Gardens in Robbinsville. She previously owned and operated Quakerbridge Gardens and Continental Coffers in Hamilton. Jack M. Conley, 76, on October 22. He was a senior research scientist at American Cyanamid Company. Edward M. Lawrence, 72, on October 19. He was a CPA with his own practice, Lawrence & Hilem, in Princeton, for more than 30 years. Charles A. Lynch, 84, on October 15. He led a long career in the chemical industry that included working in research for FMC in Princeton and retiring as an account executive for the state Department Of Commerce. Samuel Hynes, 95, on October 10. He was a professor of literature at Princeton best known for his 1988 memoir, “Flights of Passage,” which recounts his time as a bomber pilot in the Pacific theater of World War II. He was also a literary critic, writing for the New Yorker, the New York Times, and other publications.

US-based nutrition provider Gerber and recycling company TerraCycle have partnered to recycle baby food packaging across the country.   The two companies are individually committed to eliminate waste and enable customers to recycle baby food packaging via TerraCycle.   To join the programme, customers need to enroll on the Gerber Recycling Program page. Then, they can send non-municipally recyclable packaging.   The packaging will be collected, cleaned and converted into hard plastic. The recycled plastic can be reused to produce new recycled items.   Interested individuals, schools, offices or community organisations can participate in the programme.   TerraCycle CEO and founder Tom Szaky said: “Through this free recycling programme, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging.   “By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children but also with how they dispose of the packaging.”   To encourage participation in the programme, customers will be rewarded $1 for every pound of packaging waste sent.   The reward will go to a non-profit, school or charitable organisation of the collector’s choice.   Gerber president and CEO Bill Partyka said: “We know every parent’s top priority is to ensure a healthy, happy future for their baby. Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby’s future that much brighter.”   Earlier this month, TerraCycle collaborated with health and hygiene company RB to enable customers to recycle their consumer goods packaging.

Nestlé-owned Gerber has announced that it is partnering with the TerraCycle recycling program in the US to help repurpose hard-to-recycle packaging to keep it out of the landfill. The program will allow consumers to mail Gerber packaging that can't be accepted through municipal collection programs to help transform it into new products upon being melted down. Consumers can use a prepaid shipping label to partake in the free program and help do their part to keep simple-use plastics functional. The TerraCycle recycling program partnership with Gerber was touted by TerraCycle CEO and Founder Tom Szaky who said, "Through this free recycling programme, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging. By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging.”  

Consumers Can Now Recycle Baby Food Packaging Through TerraCycle® ARLINGTON, Va., Oct. 29, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Gerber, the early childhood nutrition leader, has partnered with international recycling company TerraCycle® to help give hard-to-recycle baby food packaging a new life. This partnership is rooted in Gerber and TerraCycle®'s shared values around eliminating waste and supports the recovery of hard-to-recycle baby food packaging on a national scale. Participation in the program is easy – parents can simply sign up on the Gerber Recycling Program page at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/gerber and mail in packaging that is not municipally recyclable using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.   "Through this free recycling program, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging," said TerraCycle CEO and Founder, Tom Szaky. "By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging."   As an added incentive, for every pound of packaging waste sent to TerraCycle through the Gerber Recycling Program, collectors can earn $1 to donate to a non-profit, school or charitable organization of their choice.   Gerber believes the baby food industry should help create a world where babies thrive, and this partnership is one of many steps toward its goal to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025. "We're thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as part of our broader sustainable packaging efforts," said Gerber President and CEO Bill Partyka. "We know every parent's top priority is to ensure a healthy, happy future for their baby. Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby's future that much brighter."   Gerber was founded on the ambition to give babies the best start in life. That's why their work doesn't stop at nutrition. As the world's largest baby food company, Gerber has upheld some of the industry's strongest agricultural standards through its Clean Field Farming™ practices, and is committed to reducing energy use, water use and carbon emissions in its factories.   The Gerber Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. For more information on TerraCycle's recycling programs, visit www.TerraCycle.com.

Nestlé-owned Gerber has joined forces with TerraCycle to help give hard-to-recycle baby food packaging a new life.   As part of a new programme in the US, consumers can mail Gerber packaging that is not municipally recyclable using a prepaid shipping label.   Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remoulded to make new products.   “Through this free recycling programme, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging,” said TerraCycle CEO and founder, Tom Szaky.   “By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging.”   Gerber, which was acquired by Nestlé in 2007, produces a range of infant formula, baby food, cereal, snacks and supplements. The unit aims to achieve 100% recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.   “We’re thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as part of our broader sustainable packaging efforts,” said Gerber CEO, Bill Partyka.   “We know every parent’s top priority is to ensure a healthy, happy future for their baby. Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby’s future that much brighter.”   Operating across 21 countries, TerraCycle partners with consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated.

Gerber, the early childhood nutrition leader, has partnered with international recycling company Terracycle® to help give hard-to-recycle baby food packaging a new life. This partnership is rooted in Gerber and TerraCycle's shared values arund eliminating waste and supports the recovery of hard-to-recycle baby food packaging on a national scale.

Will we go round in circles?   Still feeling a bit jet lagged from Germany? Got a post-K hangover? Or are you just dizzy from all the talk about circular economies?   Hopefully, you'll start feeling like you're back to normal soon, but don't expect the circles to stop turning very quickly. Even after machinery makers and material suppliers started packing up their booths, talk about the role plastics can play in a circular economy has only continued.   Procter & Gamble announced its plan to double the recycled content of its cleaning product packaging in Europe in 2020. BP announced its new $25 million chemical recycling plant in Illinois.   And companies marked an annual report from the Ellen MacArthur Fund by promoting their efforts for a more sustainable future.     Even babies are in on it   Maybe not babies, but their parents.   A new partnership between baby products company Gerber Products Co. and TerraCycle is aimed at difficult-to-recycle baby food packaging.   Parents can now sign up for the new Gerber Recycling Program at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/gerber to mail in packaging that can't be otherwise recycled in local municipal programs. Participants will be able to use prepaid shipping labels to send in their packaging for reprocessing.   And yes, that includes all those squeeze pouches, though the company requests that parents (or hungry toddlers) empty out all food first.   What am I worth?   Not in the philosophical sense, but in a dollars and cents measurement, the Manufacturers Association for Plastics Processors is out with its annual survey of wages and salaries in the plastics industry.   Bill Bregar has more on it here or you can go to MAPPinc.com, but in a nutshell, wages overall are up, but are increasing at a slower rate than in 2018. But obviously there are some jobs, like design engineer, which saw double-digit increases, while others, such as marketing managers, saw a double-digit drop.     Cool? Or just odd?   And finally, a survey. If you went to K, maybe you saw people carrying around those nearly life-sized, blow molded figures of a woman. Or maybe you read about them here. Machinery maker BBM called her Miss K, and her giveaway had people lining up for their own.   But we have questions. And so head over to Plastics News on Twitter and tell us: Outrageously cool? Or outrageously head scratching?   And if you took one home, please drop us a reply and tell us where you plan to place her.   We'll see you tomorrow!