Bimbo Bakeries launches national recycling program

Partners with TerraCycle to recycle Bimbo plastic packaging

TRENTON, N.J. » Bimbo Bakeries USA has launched a nationwide campaign to recycle the company’s plastic bag packaging. Among Bimbo’s products eligible for the program are: Thomas’, Sara Lee, Entenmann’s, Arnold, Ball Park, Bimbo, Maier’s, Beefsteak, Freihoffer’s, Stroehmann and others.

Bimbo Bakeries, headquartered in Horsham, is partnering with international waste management company TerraCycle to launch the USA Bag Recycling Program to make the company’s bread, bun, bagel and English muffin bags in the U.S. recyclable.

“Because plastic bags, like those used in our packaging, are not recyclable today through household recycling streams, most end up in landfills. Expanding our partnership with TerraCycle enables consumers across the country to easily recycle our plastic bags from their own homes at no charge,” Fred Penny, president, Bimbo Bakeries USA, said in a press release. He added that it is an “important, immediate action” for to company as it works toward a commitment of 100% sustainable packaging by 2025.

“As the first and only baking company to partner with TerraCycle, we have already recycled more than 5 million pounds of waste and look forward to enabling consumers to divert more millions of pounds of plastic from landfills,” he said.

Under the program, which launched in April, individuals can sign up on the TerraCycle program page https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/bimbobakeries-usa, selecting the Bimbo Bakeries USA Bag Recycling Program from the list of active brand-sponsored recycling programs available in the U.S. They can then fill any box with empty Bimbo Bakery branded bread, buns, bagels, and English muffins bags and then ship the box to TerraCycle via the free pre-paid shipping label provided through the program.

Bimbo and TerraCycle have worked together since 2013, when they began partnering through the Entenmann’s Little Bites Pouch Recycling Program, according to a TerraCycle spokesperson. The new Bimbo Bakeries USA Bag Recycling Program expands the partnership to other Bimbo brands.

“At TerraCycle, our mission has always been to eliminate waste, recycle the unrecyclable and use our innovative business solutions to minimize human impact on the planet,” TerraCycle CEO Tom Szaky, said in the release. “It’s through lasting partnerships like the one we enjoy with Bimbo Bakeries USA that allow us to fulfill our objective and help preserve the environment for future generations.”

According to an emailed response to questions, a representative from TerraCycle said the materials that are sent in, are first weighed and checked in, before being visually inspected for compliance against the accepted waste intended to be collected for that program.

The material is then shredded, cleaned and sorted by plastic type before being melted and formed into small plastic pellets that can then be molded into a wide range of plastic products like plastic lumber, composite decking and playground equipment.

Additionally, by participating in the Bimbo Bakeries USA Bag Recycling Program through Oct. 31, consumers will be entered into a contest for a chance to win various prizes. Participants in the program can also earn charitable donations for schools and non-profits of their choice in the form of TerraCycle points awarded with every shipment.

The Bimbo Bakeries USA Bag Recycling Program is open to any interested individual, school, office, or community organization. Bimbo Bakeries USA is part of Mexico’s Grupo Bimbo, S.A.B de C.V., the world’s largest baking company with operations in 33 countries.

TerraCycle partners with leading consumer product companies, retailers and cities to recycle products and packages — from dirty diapers to cigarette butts that would otherwise end up being landfilled or incinerated.