Nestle Waters North America to Lead Industry in Advancing Recycling In 2008, Nestle Waters North America established a goal to achieve a 60% recycling rate for all PET beverage bottles by 2018. Now, in order to attain this goal, and increase recycling rates for all packaging types, Nestle Waters is advocating for an Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) model that would require manufacturers to develop and fund effective recycling programs. By 2012, in collaboration with a coalition of EPR advocates, we will establish a state legislation model to drive significant increases in beverage container recycling, and, ultimately, informed debate about how best to increase recycling overall. Encouraged by the success of a hybrid EPR program for beverages in Manitoba, Nestlé Waters Canada is also currently working to expand this program to other provinces in Canada, including Ontario in 2013 and Quebec in 2014.

Progress:

Throughout 2011, Nestle Waters North America engaged with a multitude of stakeholders, including recycling advocates, the waste industry, grant foundations, policymakers and other packaged goods companies to advance its vision for extended producer responsibility (EPR) in the U.S. The company is currently supporting the establishment of a non-profit organization that will push EPR policy forward at a state level in 2012.