WRAP Campaign Gives Tremendous Boost to Connecticut's Plastic Film Recycling

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): The Connecticut Wrap Recycling Action Program (CT WRAP) campaign in early 2017 has significantly boosted plastic film recycling rates in Connecticut, according to a recent report published by the American Chemistry Council (ACC).

The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP) campaign, in collaboration with numerous partners, had encouraged consumers to recycle film packaging at retail stores and to keep film packaging out of curbside recycling bins. It focused on the Greater Hartford area (GHA), educating residents on the recycling opportunities of film packaging and the various categories of film packaging that can be collected at participating stores. The campaign’s goal was to increase the amount and quality of collected film packaging, by reducing contamination.

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The campaign was launched in February 2017 at the Middletown Price Chopper. It followed with a 10-week radio campaign. Numerous social media channels were also employed to spread the message. Various government agencies, regional organizations and communities outside of GHA too joined the campaign. The campaign also witnessed increased participation by schools and students.

The WRAP campaign expanded into Greater Hartford, resulting in 11% jump in total collection of plastic bags. The amount of ‘other films’ too increased by 7%. Also, contamination rates in non-film packaging witnessed notable decline by 23%.

Sherill Baldwin of DEEP commented that the encouraging results of the campaign will help Connecticut in meeting its goal of diverting 60% of its waste from disposal by 2024. The campaign reminds citizens of keeping plastic bags and wraps out of curbside recycling bins and bringing them back to retails stores for recycling, Baldwin added.