Recycling is a Beautiful Thing in California

We all hear about how great it is to recycle bottles and cans and paper, right? I know that here in California, our waste companies are trying to make it easy for us by providing large containers specifically for recyclables. It kind of takes a lot of the excuses out of it. In my family, we’ve been separating our recyclables from our trash for years. When Temera was trying to earn money to go to Science Camp in 5th grade, she started collecting bottles and cans to turn in to the recycling trucks. When you do it on a regular basis, it just becomes a habit.

In my kitchen, there is a spot where we put all of our cans and bottles. When the bag is full, we take it down to the big blue recyclable bin in our back yard. We’ve been doing it for so long that I always cringe when I see people who are casually throwing their plastic water bottles into a trash can. If every single one of us would recycle what we use, bottling companies could use more of the product than they are currently using.

One of the most misunderstood facts about recycling is that we just keep using the same plastic over and over again. Ideally, that would be fantastic, but only 30% of plastic bottles actually get recycled in the U.S. Only 30%! In California, 2.8 billion bottles ended up in landfills in 2011. That is a pretty staggering number. Those are bottles that could totally have been recycled. And just because a bottle says it can be recycled DOES NOT mean it is made with recycled products. There aren’t enough bottles being recycled to make this happen.

Arrowhead Waters is working hard to do everything they can to make a difference in the water we drink, as well as in the packaging it comes in. They have a long history of treating Mother Nature right. From preserving and protecting our carefully selected natural spring sources (and acres surrounding them) to sustainable sourcing of our waters, from LEED certified facilities to utilizing wind turbines for renewable energy, and constantly improving packaging. The list goes on, just like the recyclability of the ReBorn bottles.

Arrowhead has introduced their ReBorn™ bottle made with 50% recycled plastic and demonstrates how the plastic you recycle can be given a new life. The material in this bottle can be recycled again and again, so there is no end to its usefulness. Recycled plastic is simply a better source of plastic. It’s part of Arrowhead’s ongoing commitment to preserving our natural springs, and ensures that every bit of Arrowhead, both inside and out, is truly Born Better.

Check out the new ReBorn™ Bottle on Facebook.

On America Recycles Day/November 15th, we launched the ReBorn bottle with a community event in San Francisco. Through a partnership with Keep California Beautiful, about 150 volunteers beautified the Fisherman’s Wharf area:

• Removing waste and recyclables from the Aquatic Park and several Golden Gate National Park locations
• Painting and varnishing at Hyde Street Pier
• Clearing marine debris using underwater robots with nonprofit Rozalia Project for a Clean Ocean

To continue long-term community beautification, Arrowhead donated a recycled plastic park bench to the area and sponsored 4 solar-powered Smart Belly stations for recyclables, waste, and compostables- a first for US public spaces. They’re not just bins, but provide infrastructure and measurement tools on quantities collected. If you live in the Bay Area, you can check out our two Big Belly waste/recycling stations at Fisherman’s Wharf, one at Crissy Field, and one in Pacifica, a town south of San Francisco.

I’d love to hear how you recycle in your own home. Do you have separate bins, do you get your kids involved? Feel free to share your stories in the comments. I think we could all use some great, new ideas.

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Arrowhead Waters.