PepsiCo Recycling names Zero Impact Fund winners

PepsiCo Recycling has announced the recipients of its Zero Impact Fund, an expansion of PepsiCo Recycling’s college and university programs to help bring campus eco-innovations to life. 

Eight colleges and universities will each receive a contribution from PepsiCo Recycling to help accomplish their environmental goals, including:

• Centre College (Danville, Kentucky);
• Johnson County Community College (Overland Park, Kansas);
• Millersville University (Millersville, Pennsylvania);
• Northern Kentucky University (Newport, Kentucky);
• University of California Berkeley (Berkeley, California);
• University of California Irvine (Irvine, California);
• University of Massachusetts Lowell (Lowell, Massachusetts); and
• University of Northern Iowa  (Cedar Falls, Iowa).
  

“The Zero Impact Fund showcases great examples of the innovative and sustainable ideas that can come from college campuses,” says Tim Carey, senior director of sustainability at PepsiCo. “We’re excited to see how our Zero Impact Fund recipients will bring their campus eco-innovations to life and are proud to play a role in helping implement original ideas that reduce the impact that college campuses and their business partners have on the environment.”

Zero Impact Fund launched in August 2016, welcoming colleges and universities to submit project proposals for the 2016-2017 school year. The fund received more than 40 applications, with one proposal per school being evaluated by a PepsiCo committee based on environmental, economic and social impacts, along with desirability, feasibility, longevity and ingenuity.  

Winning project proposals include compost infrastructure development, student education and engagement campaigns, renewable energy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, zero-waste programs, a bike-share program and landfill diversion programs. 

Since 2010, PepsiCo Recycling has partnered with more than 100 colleges and universities on campus recycling programs and has awarded more than $70,000 to support campus recycling efforts and increase student engagement. In addition to the Zero Impact Fund, PepsiCo Recycling offers resources for colleges and universities to reduce waste produced during collegiate athletic events and engage the campus community around sustainability.

For more information on the PepsiCo Recycling Zero Impact Fund and winning proposals, visit PepsiCoRecycling.com.

The PepsiCo Recycling program, introduced on Earth Day 2010, brings innovative recycling solutions to colleges and universities, K-12 schools, gas stations and retail locations across North America with the goal of increasing the U.S. beverage container recycling rate.