STAMFORD, Conn. — May 31, 2011 — The REPREVE® Recycling Grant Program, through its parent company Unifi, has donated grant funding to four Keep America Beautiful affiliates in North Carolina to increase plastic bottle (PET) recycling. 

This grant program, focusing on local community-based plastic bottle recycling programs, is the first by Unifi with Keep America Beautiful. Grants were awarded to one western and three eastern North Carolina communities for outstanding proposals to increase public space recycling. 

"Today, only 28 percent of PET bottles are recycled," said Roger Berrier, president and COO for Unifi, the makers of 100 percent recycled REPREVE yarn.  "At Unifi, we are committed to driving education to consumers and throughout our industry regarding the importance of recycling."

Keep Greenville Beautiful was selected for its plan to place new recycling bins in the Greenville town common area and amphitheater. Keep Nash-Edgecombe Counties Beautiful in Rocky Mount will offer new recycling bins at the Rocky Mount Sports Complex.  Keep New Hanover Beautiful, in the Wilmington area, will locate its new bins in a city park along with offering a "Recycling Ambassador" program to the public. Keep Gastonia Beautiful will be placing recycling bins in its new downtown Lineberger Park.

"Unifi's support of Keep America Beautiful's public space recycling effort on a local level is critical to building recycling markets in North Carolina," said Keep America Beautiful President and CEO Matt McKenna. 

"Unifi's donation of grants to four Keep NC Beautiful affiliates proves the benefits of public-private partnerships in empowering communities to offer recycling options to citizens taking part in everyday activities," said Heather Thompson, executive director, Keep NC Beautiful.

Posted June 3, 2011

Source: Unifi Inc.