FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 

Katherine Hypolite, Communications Coordinator, 401-942-1430 x255, khypolite@rirrc.org

JOHNSTON, R.I. (July 31, 2017) – Together with an all-star cast of Rhode Islanders, Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (Resource Recovery) today unveiled a PSA campaign aimed to clean up the Ocean State’s mixed recycling.  Created in partnership with Recycle Across America® (RAA), the campaign provides a clear call to action—recycle everything that is accepted in RI’s mixed recycling program, but nothing more. By reinforcing the importance of not only recycling, but recycling right, the campaign will help keep Rhode Island’s recycling workers safe, save cities and towns money, provide high-quality raw materials to manufacturers, and preserve space in the Central Landfill.

Rhode Islanders received a sneak peek of the campaign back in April, during a live-streamed celebrity photoshoot directed by Timothy White (RISD ’79). The images captured during the event have been resurrected to create stunning PSAs featuring prominent Rhode Islanders, including: Lt. Governor Dan McKee, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, American Idol Finalist Erica van Pelt, RI Foundation CEO Neil Steinberg, Dancer Shura Baryshnikov, Ed Tarbox of Tarbox Toyota, Rhody the Ram of URI, and many more noteworthy personalities. 

“As a former mayor, I know firsthand the positive effect that recycling has on reducing costs for cities and towns,” said Lt. Governor Dan McKee. “When our municipalities save money and our landfill is preserved, Rhode Island wins. I challenge every Rhode Islander to join me in recycling right.”

Rhode Island is already the first state in the nation to adopt RAA’s standardized recycling bin labels. Now that labels are making their way onto bins across the state, Resource Recovery and RAA have created this complimentary Let’s recycle RIght! campaign to make recycling right as easy as possible.

“Being a perfect recycler is tough,” remarked Krystal Noiseux, Resource Recovery’s Education and Outreach Manager, “but being a good recycler? That should be easy.”

As part of the campaign, 390,000 households received bilingual recycling guidelines in the mail last month, designed to provide the most basic instructions that anyone can follow to be a good recycler.  In addition, Resource Recovery is also unveiling matching “How-To” videos, in both English and Spanish. The videos are available on Resource Recovery’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/rirrc, and those Rhode Islanders craving more information can still download detailed guidelines at www.recycletogetherri.org. 

Let’s recycle RIght! PSAs will be on display around the state from July 31 until November 30. Rhode Islanders can expect to see and hear bilingual radio ads, digital and static billboards, online banner ads, and social media posts via Resource Recovery’s Facebook and Instagram page. Rhode Islanders are also encouraged to visit Resource Recovery’s new website www.rirrc.org.

About Resource Recovery

Resource Recovery is the quasi-public agency dedicated to providing Rhode Islanders with safe, environmentally compliant, clean, and cost effective waste and recycling services. The agency operates the state’s Materials Recycling Facility, Leaf and Yard Compost, Eco-Depot, and Central Landfill, and provides free programs and services to help the RI community manage materials more sustainably.  

Check out Resource Recovery on Twitter,  Facebook, Instagram and YouTube to learn more about waste reduction, recycling, composting and proper waste disposal.