Rubicon launches holiday recycling campaign

Rubicon Technologies Inc., a Lexington, Kentucky-based software provider for waste, recycling and fleet operations, has launched Trash or Treasure, a program designed to help divert candy wrappers that accumulate around holidays, starting with Halloween. 

Over the last four years, Rubicon says its annual Halloween recycling campaign has diverted thousands of candy wrappers from landfills and campaign participation has grown exponentially every year since its inception in 2019. Renamed "Trash or Treasure," the program  will provide mail-back recycling boxes for discarded candy wrappers to schools, community organizations and small businesses all year. 

Starting this fall, Trash or Treasure will run with special campaigns around Halloween, Valentine’s Day and other seasonal festivities in 2024. 

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“Rubicon’s mission is to end waste, and our Trash or Treasure campaign is the clearest example of this mission in action,” says Dan Sampson, chief marketing and communications officer at Rubicon. “We are so excited to announce the expansion of the program, such that we can now divert candy wrappers from landfills all year long. We are incredibly grateful to all the schools, community groups and small businesses for being a part of Trash or Treasure. Their support and enthusiasm have made the program what it is today.” 

Rubicon says Trash or Tresure’s success hinges on the campaign’s education program, which was created with The National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Downloadable lesson plans, reading lists, signage and other materials are available to help campaign participants rethink what is considered trash and understand its potential value as part of the circular economy. 

These materials introduce circular economy concepts that can be integrated into curriculums and provide interactive critical thinking exercises with the goal of helping students understand recycling and why it is important to the health of our planet, Rubicon says.

“The National Wildlife Federation seeks to educate and inspire environmental and wildlife champions of all ages,” says Kim Martinez, vice president of education and engagement at The National Wildlife Federation. “By participating in Rubicon’s Trash or Treasure Halloween campaign, kids are doing their part for wildlife by keeping candy wrappers out of our landfills and oceans.” 

This year’s program also sees the return of UPS as the campaign’s official shipping partner. Rubicon says UPS has been integral to the positive environmental impact of Trash or Treasure, and its carbon neutral shipping solutions have been a critical component of the success of the campaign.  

Wood Partners, an Atlanta-based development, construction and community manager, also is one of the campaign’s commercial sponsors.