PetSmart has partnered with TerraCycle, a leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials, to launch an in-store recycling program for empty pet food, treat and cat litter bags made from flexible plastic from all brands. Masu.
The PetSmart Pet Food & Treat Bag Free Recycling Program is currently available at 100 PetSmart stores in Arizona and New Jersey. PetSmart said this recycling initiative makes it easier for pet parents to adopt sustainable practices and keeps common waste packaging out of landfills.
“We’re hearing pet parents express a desire to reduce the impact their pets have on the planet,” said Joanne Dwyer, PetSmart’s vice president of corporate social responsibility and corporate communications. Ta. “Through our partnership with TerraCycle, we are making it easy for pet parents to take small, sustainable actions. I believe that the cumulative effects will have a big impact.”
The U.S. pet food industry generates an estimated 300 million pounds of plastic waste annually, much of which is not accepted by in-store recycling services. As a result, 99% of pet food packaging is thrown away instead of being recycled. The PetSmart recycling program tackles this problem by allowing consumers to collect and recycle empty pet food, treats, and trash bags, keeping them out of landfills and incinerators. I’m here.
“There is a common misconception that empty pet food and treat bags are destined for the trash,” says Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. “Our partnership with PetSmart allows pet owners to easily and conveniently recycle these materials, helping us establish a new benchmark in the pet retail industry.”
Consumers can dispose of empty bags of pet food, treats or cat litter in designated recycling bins at participating PetSmart stores. Once received at TerraCycle’s material recovery facility, plastic packaging is shredded, cleaned, and converted into raw materials for manufacturing new recycled products.
All PetSmart stores in Arizona and New Jersey will participate in the pilot program.