Coca-Cola aims to promote waste management programme

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PNG (CCEP PNG) has launched its plastic bottles collection programme yesterday in Port Moresby.
The programme would be helping to increase the capacity of beverage bottles in Papua New Guinea that can be recycled.
Vice-president of public affairs, communication and sustainability for Coca-Cola Asean and South Pacific, Russell Mahoney, said the collection of the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic beverage bottles was one of several sustainability initiatives currently being undertaken by the Coca-Cola system in PNG.
Mahoney said CCEP PNG’s goal was to collect and recycle one bottle for every bottle they would bring to the market by 2030.
“Like most people, we do not want to see our bottles end up as litter,” he said.
“We are committed to being part of the solution.”
The initiative under the partnership between CCEP PNG, Coca-Cola PNG and Branis Recycling Ltd would collect PET plastic beverage bottles from the public to prevent them polluting the environment.
CCEP PNG commercial director, Tim Solly said through the initiative, the public would be able to return empty plastic beverage bottles in exchange for cash.
“Consumers can bring empty PET plastic bottles of any brand to Branis collection centres in Port Moresby and they will be paid an incentive of K1 per kilo,” he said.
Solly said that the materials would be sent offshore for recycling due to the absence of a PET recycling facility in the country.
He also stressed that there were two shredders situated in Port Moresby and Lae that would be operational in the country to flake the PET plastic bottles to reduce costs of shipping.
Meanwhile, Branis Recycling Ltd general manager Peter Karu said Branis was excited to partner with CCEP PNG in promoting waste management and caring for the environment.