AF&PA presents 2014 Community Recycling Award for Partnerships to Metro Waste Authority in Des Moines, Iowa; Metro Waste Authority partners with 21 cities in Polk County, The Carton Council, schools, libraries and civic groups, on recycling efforts

Debra Garcia

WASHINGTON , June 19, 2014 (press release) – Community partners with a variety of organizations to increase paper recycling.

The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) presented Metro Waste Authority, based in Des Moines, Iowa, with its 2014 Community Recycling Award for Partnerships. The award, which recognizes outstanding paper recycling programs, was presented during Metro Waste Authority's Board of Directors meeting yesterday.

Metro Waste Authority partners with the 21 cities in Polk County, The Carton Council, schools, libraries and civic groups to spread recycling information and increase recycling efforts.

"AF&PA is proud to honor Metro Waste Authority's recycling efforts with this year's Community Recycling Award for Partnerships. By partnering with a variety of entities, they have spread the paper recycling message and helped to increase the paper recycling rate," said Machele Henderson, plant general manager for International Paper Recycling - Des Moines, who presented the award on behalf of AF&PA.

Using results from in-depth audits, Metro Waste Authority tailors communication efforts to better educate the public and divert more paper from the landfill. The components of this extensive campaign included a TV commercial, YouTube videos, radio ads, blogs, a recycling guide, and assorted social media.

"Thank you to AF&PA for this award. We are glad to see our efforts to increase recycling in the region are paying off and hope they will inspire other communities around the country," said Reo Menning, Metro Waste Authority executive director.

AF&PA recently announced that 63.5 percent of all paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2013. Recycling programs such as Metro Waste Authority's, combined with the recycling efforts of millions of Americans each day, help drive the industry toward its goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery for recycling by 2020.

For more information about all the 2014 AF&PA Recycling Award winners, case studies on winners' programs, background information, free classroom resources, statistics and more, visit paperrecycles.org.


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The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry's sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020. The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures approximately $210 billion in products annually, and employs nearly 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at www.afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.

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