Greetings from the desk of Liz DeWitt, President & CEO of the
Florida Beverage Association!
Here’s the latest Every Bottle Back news and updates highlighting how Florida’s beverage industry is investing in communities, strengthening recycling, and delivering real, measurable impact across the Sunshine State.
Now Open: 2026 FBA Community Grant Program
Applications are open for our 11th Annual Community Grant Program.
This competitive program provides funding to nonprofit organizations and state or local government entities advancing environmental sustainability and health and wellness initiatives across Florida. For more than a decade, the program has helped communities become cleaner, healthier, and more resilient—supporting innovative, locally driven solutions statewide.
Since its inception, the FBA Community Grant Program has supported a wide range of recipients—from environmental organizations leading recycling education and litter prevention efforts, to health-focused groups promoting nutrition education and active lifestyles.
Grants are generally capped at $25,000, with flexibility for unique projects. Some applications may also qualify for matching grants through the American Beverage Foundation for a Healthy America.
Beyond the Bin: Lessons from Orange County Public Schools
Schools are where lifelong habits begin—and when it comes to recycling, the impact can extend far beyond the classroom.
FBA was proud to sponsor Beyond the Bin: Building a Sustainable and Engaging School Recycling Culture, a virtual webinar hosted by the Florida Recycling Partnership Foundation and featuring Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), a past FBA grant recipient.
The webinar highlights how OCPS strengthened recycling across its campuses through thoughtful planning, operational improvements, and meaningful student engagement—offering a proven model that can be replicated statewide.
Webinar Highlights include:
- Practical strategies from OCPS Sustainability Manager David Klawitter on improving recycling outcomes through student-centered approaches.
- Insights from Florida DEP’s Christopher Perry on conducting school recycling audits and lessons learned across districts.
These real-world examples demonstrate how strong school recycling programs not only improve material recovery but also help create informed, engaged students who carry those habits into their homes and communities.
Turning Learning into Action: Clean Miami Beach Partnership
Thanks to our partnership with Clean Miami Beach, students across Miami-Dade County turned classroom learning into hands-on environmental action.
Through FBA grant support, 12 beach cleanups engaged hundreds of students and volunteers—many from Title I and low-income schools—removing hundreds of pounds of trash while teaching real-world lessons about waste reduction, recycling, and environmental stewardship.
From plastic bottles and caps to food wrappers and other litter, these cleanups didn’t just remove debris—they empowered young people to be part of the solution and protect Florida’s coastline.
We’re proud to support partners who transform education into measurable impact.
Making Real Progress
From how beverage containers are designed and manufactured to how they’re collected, recycled, and remade, our industry’s efforts are delivering real results across the nation:
- 726 million pounds of PET plastic kept out of landfills and the environment over the next 10 years.
- $39 million invested in 65+ communities and counting.
- 46 million pounds of aluminum kept out of landfills over the next 10 years.
- 1 million+ recycling carts provided to households statewide.
- 7.7% reduction in the industry’s plastic footprint from 2018–2022.
- Nearly two out of three bottles now include recycled plastic.
- 3x increase in the use of recycled plastic.
This progress reinforces our shared commitment to getting Every Bottle Back and continuing to innovate, collaborate, and measure success.
How You Can Help
Building a stronger, more effective recycling system takes collaboration—and there’s a role for everyone to play.
If your organization supports recycling, environmental sustainability, community engagement, or responsible materials management, we invite you to join the Every Bottle Back coalition by adding your name to our growing list of partners and endorsers.
Thank you for your partnership. Let’s keep the momentum going!
Best regards,
Liz DeWitt
President/CEO
Florida Beverage Association