Paper Retriever Teams Up With Kroger To Keep Indianapolis Beautiful

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:

Shelly Richardson
214-891-5386
shelly_richardson@richards.com

Partnership Gives Back To Community And Environment

Houston, TX (May 17, 2010) – Paper Retriever, a community paper-recycling program, has teamed up with Kroger and Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc. (KIB) for an initiative aimed at helping raise money through paper recycling. Funds that are earned through the Paper Retriever bins placed at Kroger stores across Indianapolis directly benefit KIB as it engages neighborhoods in community and environmental improvement projects.

“Paper Retriever is focused on educating people about recycling and how small, individual efforts truly impact local communities,” said Melinda Antell, Area Manager of Indianapolis for Paper Retriever. “Our partnership with Kroger has done just that.”

In total, nearly 6.5 million pounds of paper have been recycled through Paper Retriever’s green-and-yellow bins at Indianapolis Kroger locations in two years, and more than $40,000 has been donated to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful, Inc.

“Paper Retriever was a natural extension of our desire to positively impact the Indianapolis community,” said John Elliott, Manager of Public Affairs. “Kroger is always looking for ways to create actionable opportunities for both our customers and associates, and the Paper Retriever program provides a great way to give back to the local community and environment. We intend to continue expanding this program to additional stores.”

The impact of recycling though Paper Retriever expands beyond the green- and-yellow recycling bins. The nearly 3,200 tons that have been recycled through the Kroger locations in Indianapolis saved more than 9600 cubic yards of landfill space, more than 12 million kilowatts of electricity, more than 22 million gallons of water and nearly 1.3 million gallons of oil.

“The impact that the funds raised through the Paper Retriever bins at Kroger has been incredible. Each year, KIB engages over 30,000 volunteers on over 500 community improvement projects, and we couldn’t do it without the help of such great partners. The money raised from the community paper recycling has been enough to plant nearly 400 trees!,” said David Forsell, President of Keep Indianapolis Beautiful.

Community members who’d like to donate to Paper Retriever partners can visit www.paperretriever.com to locate the most convenient bin, and to learn more about what types of paper can be recycled through Paper Retriever.

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About Paper Retriever
Paper Retriever is a simple paper-recycling program that directly benefits the community as well as the environment. Schools, churches, and other nonprofit organizations house green-and-yellow Paper Retriever bins for members of the community to fill with recyclable paper goods. The nonprofit organizations are then paid for the amount of paper they collect. There are over 18,000 Paper Retriever locations and over 26,000 Paper Retriever bins hosted in 23 major metropolitan areas across the United States. In 2009, materials recycled through Paper Retriever generated more than $3.8 million for over 15,000 nonprofit organizations. Paper Retriever is a subsidiary program of AbitibiBowater. For more information, visit www.paperretriever.com or head to www.facebook.com/paperretriever.