[greenyes] Involving Beverage Vendors

[David Stitzhal <stitzhal@no.address>]

Hello GreenYes'ers,

Does anyone have experience with, or knowledge of, school recycling 
programs (elementary through high school) that have successfully 
recruited the active participation of beverage vendors like Pepsi and 
Coke (or their local bottlers and distributors)?

The Green Schools Program sponsored by the King County (WA) Solid 
Waste Division is working with schools to increase bottle and can 
recycling.  We are hoping to actively engage the beverage contract 
holders that provide vending machines and drinks to the schools. The 
vendors currently pay a commission to the schools for each beverage 
sold. However, they do not currently support or participate in a 
recycling collection programs for the bottles and cans.

We are considering a variety of options that could be written in to 
future beverage contracts issued by School Districts. These options 
range  from asking vendors to provide large, bottle-shaped recycling 
containers to be placed next to every beverage machine, to requiring 
that the vendors actually participate in the collection of the 
containers.

If you know of any examples of beverage vendors assisting with school 
recycling programs for their containers, I would appreciate your 
providing me with background and contact information.

Thanks in advance. And I will be more than pleased to share our 
findings with anyone who wishes to see what we turn up.

Cheers.

David Stitzhal
Project Manager, Green Schools Program
stitzhal@no.address
206-723-0528