Beach Plastic Recycling Program Comes to the VI

Commissioner Dawn L. Henry Esq., of the Department of Planning and Natural Resources is pleased to announce the unveiling of the Beach Plastic Recycling Program to the US Virgin Islands.  This program will collect and recycle plastics from Territorial coastal cleanup efforts.  The Division of Coastal Zone Management worked with TerraCycle Inc., the world’s leader in the collection and repurposing of hard-to-recycle post-consumer waste, to bring this program.

Coastal Zone Management has been hosting weekly “pop-up pick-ups” with staff and volunteers as well as local organizations leading coastal cleanups in an effort to fill a 40’ container with rigid plastics. Once filled, the container will be shipped to the TerraCycle facilities in New Jersey.

The collected waste is reused, upcycled or recycled into a variety of affordable, sustainable consumer products and industrial applications.

TerraCycle has also joined forces with Proctor & Gamble to create the Beach Plastics Recycling Program. In January, the Procter & Gamble Company announced that Head & Shoulders (H&S), the world’s #1 shampoo brand, would produce the world’s first recyclable shampoo bottle made from up to 25% recycled beach plastic.

To learn more about TerraCycle Inc. or get involved in our recycling programs, please visit www.terracycle.com Follow our social media campaign at Facebook.com/VIDPNR for updates on outreach events and local information.

For more information about this topic and to receive photos, please contact Kristina K. Edwards at (340)774-3320 ext 5117 or email kristina.edwards@dpnr.vi.gov.