Greetings from the desk of Liz DeWitt, President/CEO of the Florida Beverage Association (FBA).
The past couple of months, we’ve seen how collaboration drives progress, from Miami to Pensacola and everywhere in between. By supporting local innovation and infrastructure, the Florida Beverage Association and our partners are turning recycling goals into reality.
Continue reading to learn what’s possible when community leaders, educators, and industry partners come together with a shared vision: to get every bottle and can back.
Hands-On Environmental Learning with Clean Miami Beach
FBA, in partnership with the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America, recently celebrated the success of our grant to Clean Miami Beach.
The grant supported two unique youth programs:
- Classroom on the Sand, where students explored coastal ecosystems through science-based learning and cleanups.
- Microplastic Art, which transformed collected marine debris into creative works of art.
To mark the programs’ success, PepsiCo, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida, and local community members joined students and volunteers for a Miami Beach cleanup event, removing litter and recyclable materials from the shoreline.
In 2023 alone, Clean Miami Beach educated more than 450 students and repurposed 400 pounds of marine debris into art — inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards.
Pensacola’s Curbside Recycling is Back … and Thriving!
Thanks to an Every Bottle Back investment from the American Beverage Association to The Recycling Partnership, the City of Pensacola has successfully relaunched its curbside recycling program.
In just three weeks, more than 2,200 households signed up, and the city’s contamination rate dropped to an impressive 6% — far below the 20% target.
This success proves what’s possible when innovation and collaboration come together to make recycling easier and more efficient for communities.
Celebrating Sustainability Champions in Orange County
FBA was proud to sponsor and join Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) for the 12th Annual Green Schools Recognition Program Awards Banquet — their biggest year yet, with 47 schools participating, representing 22% of the entire district!
FBA has a long history of supporting OCPS through our Community Grant Program, which empowers students and educators to create lasting environmental impact through innovative recycling and sustainability programs.
This year, a special congratulations goes to Horizon West Middle School, the first-place winner of the Green Schools Awards.
You can also visit MadeToBeRemade.org to explore how our industry is rethinking packaging from design to reuse.
Expanding Recycling Access Along Miami’s Urban Trail
Back to Miami, where we celebrated a major milestone with Friends of The Underline, announcing a $25,000 matching grant to expand recycling access along Miami’s 10-mile urban trail.
With our support, 14 new recycling containers have already been installed with the potential to collect 53,000 pounds of recyclable materials annually!
A huge THANK YOU to all the partners and volunteers who are making it easier for Floridians to recycle while enjoying the outdoors.
A National Milestone: 1 Million Recycling Carts Delivered
On a national level, America’s leading beverage companies reached an incredible milestone earlier this quarter: 1 million recycling carts delivered to communities nationwide through the Every Bottle Back initiative.
These carts help ensure recyclable materials are collected properly, reducing waste and increasing the supply of recycled PET plastic and aluminum that can be remade into new bottles and cans.
Every Bottle Back is a collaborative effort between Florida’s beverage industry and local leaders like you.
If you represent a school, municipality, or organization interested in improving recycling access or education, we’d love to connect.
Current coalition partners include: Associated Industries of Florida:
• Association of Plastic Recyclers • Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health & Sustainability • Florida Chamber of Commerce • Florida Foundation for State Parks • Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation • Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association • Florida Retail Federation • Keep Alachua County Beautiful • Keep Orlando Beautiful • Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful • Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce • The Recycling Partnership.
Email info@flabev.org or visit our website to learn more about Every Bottle Back and ways you can show your support.
A National Milestone: 1 Million Recycling Carts Delivered
Every Bottle Back is more than a campaign — it’s a collaborative effort between Florida’s beverage industry and local leaders, schools, and organizations across the state.
If you represent a school, municipality, or nonprofit interested in improving recycling access or education, we’d love to connect.
Special thanks to our current coalition partners:
- Associated Industries of Florida
- Association of Plastic Recyclers
- Florida Chamber Leadership Cabinet on Safety, Health & Sustainability
- Florida Chamber of Commerce
- Florida Foundation for State Parks
- Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation
- Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association
- Florida Retail Federation
- Keep Alachua County Beautiful
- Keep Orlando Beautiful
- Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful
- Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce
- The Recycling Partnership
Email us at info@flabev.org or visit our website to learn more about Every Bottle Back.
Thank you for your partnership. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Best regards,
Liz DeWitt
President/CEO
Florida Beverage Association
