Recognized for Dart Container Employee Recycling Center  

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) recognized Dart Container Corporationwith the 2016 AF&PA Leadership in Sustainability Award for Paper Recovery for Recycling for Dart’s Employee Recycling Center. The award was presented at AF&PA’s annual meeting on Friday, Nov. 11 in Cary, North Carolina.

“Dart Container is leading by example with their Employee Recycling Center, which has made paper recovery for recycling easier and more accessible for their employees and their families,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. 

Dart Container opened a drive-through recycling facility at its Mason, Michigan headquarters where employees have access to free, convenient paper recycling. Regular curbside residential recycling services in the area are uncommon, and often require payment. In its first three months, the facility recycled nearly 93,000 pounds of paper products. 

“Thank you to AF&PA for recognizing our Employee Recycling Center with this award,” said James D. Lammers, president of Dart Container. “At Dart, we are committed to providing our employees with opportunities to act on the sustainability principles we champion.”

Designed to recognize exemplary sustainability programs and initiatives in the paper and wood products manufacturing industry, AF&PA’s annual sustainability awards are given based on the merit of entries received across multiple categories.  

Projects that support progress toward the Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability goals qualify for recognition in the “Leadership” category, which has five subcategories that correspond to the goals: Paper Recovery for Recycling, Energy Efficiency/Greenhouse Gas Reduction, Sustainable Forest Management, Safety, and Water. The “Innovation in Sustainability” award is reserved for projects that merit recognition for their contribution to sustainable business practices, not one of the goals specifically.

AF&PA’s 2016 Sustainability Report showed that the U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, tissue and wood products manufacturing industry has made significant, measurable progress toward achieving its Better Practices, BetterPlanet 2020 sustainability goals.