PHOENIX — PetSmart recently announced a partnership with TerraCycle to launch a new in-store recycling program for empty pet food, treat and cat litter bags made from flexible plastic. The new initiative, called PetSmart Pet Food & Treat Bags Free Recycling Program, aims to make it easier for pet parents to embrace sustainability, while also keeping packaging out of landfills.
“We hear pet parents express their desire to reduce their pet’s impact on the planet,” said Joanne Dwyer, vice president of corporate social responsibility and corporate communications at PetSmart. “Through our partnership with TerraCycle, we are making it easier for pet parents to take small sustainable actions. Focused on recycling those products pet parents buy over and over again, we believe these small actions will add up to make a big impact.”
According to research from the Pet Sustainability Coalition, the US pet food industry produces about 300 million lbs of plastic waste annually. Most of this packaging is not accepted through curbside recycling programs, meaning 99% of pet food packaging is thrown away instead of recycled.
Through the PetSmart Pet Food & Treat Bags Free Recycling Program, the retailer aims to help address this problem, allowing consumers to drop-off empty pet food, treat and litter bags in designated recycling bins at specific PetSmart locations. TerraCycle will then take the bags to its material recovery facilities, where they will be shredded, cleaned and transformed into raw material to make new recycled products.
PetSmart stores in Arizona and New Jersey will participate in the pilot recycling program.
“There’s a common misconception that empty pet food and treat bags are destined for the trash,” said Tom Szaky, founder and chief executive officer of TerraCycle. “Our partnership with PetSmart makes it easy and convenient for pet owners to recycle these materials, helping to set a new benchmark in the pet retail industry.”
Read more about sustainability efforts across the pet food and treat industry.
