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The announcement coincides with Coca-Cola Enterprises, the world's largest Coca-Cola distributor, forming a new company, Coca-Cola Recycling LLC.

Coca-Cola Recycling will be dedicated to recovering and recycling packaging materials used in North America - including polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic, aluminum, cardboard and plastic film. The company plans to develop cost-efficient solutions for reclaiming used beverage containers and establish centralised recycling centres throughout North America with a goal of recycling 100 percent of the packaging materials generated by the Coca-Cola system.

John Burgess, president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Recycling, said:
"The launch of Coca-Cola Recycling marks an important milestone for CCE and the Coca-Cola system as we energise our efforts to reshape the recycling and sustainable packaging arena."

While the primary beverage container materials aluminum and PET have high value as recyclables in the marketplace, not enough material is recovered to meet the increasing demand for them. Coca-Cola Enterprises formed Coca-Cola Recycling to help increase recycling rates in North America and ensure ready access to recycled material.

John F. Brock, president and chief executive officer of Coca-Cola Enterprises, said:
"Coca-Cola Recycling will perform a key strategic role in achieving our corporate responsibility and sustainability goals. It will help CCE find effective solutions for sustainable packaging and recycling while conserving energy and resources, ultimately striving to reduce our carbon footprint."

Burgess added:
"Recycling plastic and aluminum for reuse also yields financial benefits, requires less energy than producing bottles with new materials, and reduces waste and greenhouse gases. Recycling makes perfect business sense, and it is the right thing to do."

Ed Sutter, chairman of Coca-Cola Recycling, said:
"We established Coca-Cola Recycling to provide leadership and resources to help us recycle the beverage packaging we generate in North America."