The WRAP campaign has seen success in Wisconsin, as well as in Vancouver, Wash.
The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has a goal to double film recycling by 2020. One initiative aimed at helping hit that two billion pound target is the creation of Wrap Recycling Action Programs (WRAPs) in communities across the country.
These public-private partnerships aim to educate consumers and support retailers in collecting the material so it can be processed at correct facilities. Traditional material recovery facilities can’t process polyethylene film and much of it can end up clogging waterways, killing wildlife, and polluting roads and terrain.
The WRAP campaign has seen success in Wisconsin, as well as in Vancouver, Wash., where collection of film has more than doubled through store drop-off sites facilitated by the program. With the support of the state’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the ACC has brought the campaign to Connecticut last summer and it’s already paying dividends.
“We are doing this so residents know what they can do, beyond simply not put plastic film in their bins,” says Sherill Baldwin, environmental analyst at Connecticut DEEP. “We want to make sure they know they can bring it back to retailers or participating municipal transfer stations. Ultimately, we want to improve quality and reduce contamination.”
So far, about 30 municipalities have signed on; two groups each representing multiple towns; a council of governments that addresses issues regionally; and some grocers.
There are “WRAP Champions”—entities that build relationships with stores in communities to promote the program and build consumer awareness. These “champions” take on a supportive role, helping participating businesses figure out how to collect film or connecting companies with haulers and other resources.
The Connecticut Food Association (CFA) has worked to reduce and recover plastic film for years. Members have eliminated almost 300 million bags since 2010, representing a 30 percent reduction, through incentives and practices to decrease use, among initiatives.
WRAP has solid potential to boost their efforts, believes CFA President.