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What is Beyond 34: Recycling and Recovery for a New Economy?

Beyond 34: Recycling and Recovery for A New Economy is a first-of-its kind multi-stakeholder pilot project aimed at increasing the current 34% recycling rate in the United States by providing a scalable model for improving recycling and recovery rates. The goal of the project is to help communities, cities and businesses across the country create a more sustainable future. The City of Orlando has been chosen to serve as the pilot city.
 
“Orlando is an ideal city to begin the Beyond 34 project,” said Marc DeCourcey, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation. “Its strong private sector engagement, innovative culture, and robust sustainability goals were all factors that contributed to their selection. We look forward to engaging with local leaders throughout the project, and we are confident that Beyond 34 will help support the Orlando area’s mission to advance sustainability and economic growth.”
 
The project will be implemented as a private-public partnership between the U.S. Chamber Foundation, RRS, the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Orlando. RRS will facilitate development of a recycling business plan for the Orlando region and its stakeholders that keeps high-value recyclable material out of landfills. The plan will also identify greater economic reuse opportunities material generated in from commercial, industrial, and residential sources.
 
The project is made possible through support from the Dow Chemical Company, The Coca-Cola Company, Republic Services, Target, Walgreens Boots Alliance, and the Walmart Foundation.  Learn how to get involved in the project here.
 

“Orlando is committed to reducing our environmental impact and as a result, we have a goal to become a zero-waste community by 2040,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “We’re making significant strides toward that commitment by providing our residents and businesses with the tools and strategies necessary to divert more waste from our landfills, including offering weekly recycling collection, quarterly e-waste drives, free backyard composters to residents, and a commercial food waste collection program that is diverting millions of pounds of organic waste per year.”