A Cleaner, Greener Park: A New Way to Manage Trash in Central Park

Alcoa News Release:

May 28, 2013
A Cleaner, Greener Park: A New Way to Manage Trash in Central Park
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Central Park Conservancy plans to nearly double the number of recycling cans in Manhattan through the addition of more than 400 cans in the Park, as part of a plan to reduce rats, improve visitor safety and increase sustainability.

Despite the number of visitors quadrupling since 1980, the Central Park Conservancy has managed to keep the Park clean by focusing on the collection of recyclables and, since 2003, reducing the Park’s waste stream by almost 40 percent. To even more effectively manage the impact of 40 million annual visitors and follow the City’s lead in enhanced recycling efforts, the Conservancy is partnering with Alcoa Inc., Alcoa Foundation and Landor Associates to expand trash management successes throughout the Park.

The new system includes the replacement of the Park’s current trash and recycling receptacles with more than 700 newly designed aluminum cans. These cans, made from 30 percent recycled aluminum donated by Alcoa Inc., are more durable than the current plastic receptacles. They were designed by Landor Associates to prevent overflow of trash and access by rats, and are a more attractive alternative to today’s plastic receptacles. Alcoa Foundation awarded the Conservancy a $500,000 grant to support the new system’s design.

“With three times as many people visiting the Park now compared to 1980, the Conservancy has to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to smart management,” said Douglas Blonsky, President & CEO of the Central Park Conservancy. “New bins in smarter locations means a more environmentally friendly, efficient collection system that helps 40 million visitors a year continue to enjoy the Park they love. We are thrilled to have the support and expertise of Alcoa Inc., Alcoa Foundation, and Landor Associates in enhancing how we manage Central Park.”

“Aluminum is the most recycled material on earth and we are proud to partner with the Central Park Conservancy on this important initiative,” said Klaus Kleinfeld, Chairman and CEO, Alcoa. “We will continue to look for compelling and creative ways to help individuals, public spaces and cities increase recycling rates and capture the economic and environmental value of recycling aluminum.”

“As New Yorkers and regular visitors to Central Park, we were really excited to take on the assignment of designing the new trash bins,” said Allen Adamson, managing director of Landor’s New York office, which designed the cans. “The result is a really iconic form, designed to complement its surroundings, while encouraging recycling in the Park. Using aluminum was a perfect match, giving the design flexibility and resilience we wouldn’t have had from any other material. We think we struck a nice balance here.”

The trash and recycling cans will be placed in strategic, high-traffic locations throughout the Park and removed from the centers of landscapes. Concentrating trash cans in high-traffic areas means fewer vehicles on pedestrian paths, making children’s and pets’ visit to Central Park safer than ever.

For more information on managing trash in Central Park, visitcentralparknyc.org/trash.

About the Central Park Conservancy

The mission of the Central Park Conservancy is to restore, manage and enhance Central Park in partnership with the public, for the enjoyment of present and future generations. A private, not-for-profit organization founded in 1980, the Conservancy provides 85 percent of Central Park's $46 million expense budget and is responsible for all basic care of the Park. For more information on the Conservancy, please visit centralparknyc.org.

About Alcoa Foundation

Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the U.S., with assets of approximately US$460 million. Founded 60 years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$570 million since 1952. In 2012, Alcoa Foundation contributed more than US$21 million to nonprofit organizations throughout the world, building innovative partnerships to improve the environment and educate tomorrow’s leaders for careers in manufacturing and engineering. The work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa’s thousands of employee volunteers who share their talents and time to make a difference in the communities where Alcoa operates. Through the Company’s signature Month of Service program, in 2012, a record 60 percent of Alcoa employees took part in more than 1,050 events across 24 countries, benefiting more than 450,000 people and 2,050 nonprofit organizations. For more information, visit www.alcoafoundation.com and follow @AlcoaFoundation on Twitter.

About Alcoa

Alcoa is the world’s leading producer of primary and fabricated aluminum, as well as the world’s largest miner of bauxite and refiner of alumina. In addition to inventing the modern-day aluminum industry, Alcoa innovation has been behind major milestones in the aerospace, automotive, packaging, building and construction, commercial transportation, consumer electronics and industrial markets over the past 125 years. Among the solutions Alcoa markets are flat-rolled products, hard alloy extrusions, and forgings, as well as Alcoa® wheels, fastening systems, precision and investment castings, and building systems in addition to its expertise in other light metals such as titanium and nickel-based super alloys. Sustainability is an integral part of Alcoa’s operating practices and the product design and engineering it provides to customers. Alcoa has been a member of the Dow Jones Sustainability Index for 11 consecutive years and approximately 75 percent of all of the aluminum ever produced since 1888 is still in active use today. Alcoa employs approximately 61,000 people in 30 countries across the world. For more information, visitwww.alcoa.com, follow @Alcoa on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Alcoaand follow Alcoa on Facebook at www.facebook.com/Alcoa.

About Landor Associates

Landor Associates is one of the world’s leading branding and design firms. Founded by Walter Landor in 1941, Landor pioneered many of the research, design, and consulting methods that are now standard in the branding industry. Partnering with clients, Landor drives business transformation and performance by creating brands that are more innovative, progressive, and dynamic than their competitors. Landor’s holistic approach to branding is a balance of rigorous, business-driven thinking and exceptional creativity. Its work spans the full breadth of branding services, including brand research and valuation, brand positioning and architecture, naming and writing, corporate identity and consumer packaging design, experience and environmental design, brand equity management, brand engagement, and digital branding. With 21 offices in 16 countries, Landor’s current and past clients include some of the world’s most powerful brands, including BlackBerry, Citi, the Council on Foreign Relations, Diageo, Hilton Hotels, HP, Jet Airways, Microsoft, MillerCoors, Panasonic, PGA of America, Procter & Gamble, Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, and Verizon. Landor is a member of the Young & Rubicam Brands network within WPP, the world's largest marketing and communications firm.