Coca-Cola looks to introduce on-the-go recycling at transport hubs

Ed Knight, Coca-Cola Enterprises GB head of communication, told Packaging News the soft drinks giant was well placed to support on-the-go recycling. Its knowledge of where its products are consumed enables it to target specific locations.

“The key thing is making recycling easy for consumers,” he said.

The three areas already identified are theme parks, shopping centres and universities. Knight said the firm is considering transport hubs but admits it needs to work with the organisations to ensure it is done appropriately.

He acknowledged that some stations had, for example, removed bins due to the possible threat from terrorists.

Coca-Cola currently has five zones in operation in the UK: Thorpe Park, Legoland, Chessington World of Adventures, Festival Place Shopping Centre in Basingstoke and the University of Warwick.

Coca-Cola has set itself the target of opening 80 zones by 2011, but Knight said it was an “important challenge to meet”.

“There’s obviously been real progress and change in recycling at home, but it’s a part of modern life that a lot of our products are consumed out and about.

“Recycling on-the-go is the logical step to take,” he said.