Great Recycling Program: A Green Initiative in NYC

by greenlivingguy @Seth_LeitmanMay 4, 2012November 3, 2025

(Bethesda, Md. – May 1, 2012) – Yesterday Honest Tea® kicked off a national recycling initiative called “The Great Recycle” in New York City. The event featuring a 30-foot tall recycling bin in Times Square was a huge success with New Yorkers recycling more than 15,000 empty plastic, glass and aluminum beverage containers (~1,500 containers each hour). The plastic bottles collected are being recycled into plastic lumber, which GrowNYC will use to build urban gardens for NYC public schools as part of their Grow to Learn program. 5-Boro Green Services will responsibly recycle the other items donated at the event. “We are thrilled with New York’s response to our invitation to keep the (re)cycle going,” said Seth Goldman, co-founder and TeaEO of Honest Tea. “While we captured one-third of the amount of bottles Honest Tea sells in a day in New York City, the scale of our effort illustrates how much more work communities need to do to boost national recycling rates above 30 percent, let alone our long-term goal of recapturing every bottle that we sell.”

Times Square Recycling Program Collects 15,000 Bottles in One Day

Big City, Big Impact

In the heart of Times Square, something green happened. A recycling program made a bold debut — and it didn’t go unnoticed. In just one day, the campaign collected more than 15,000 beverage containers. That’s not just impressive. That’s a wake-up call for how much waste we generate — and what we can do about it.

Recycling Takes Center Stage

The program was part of the “Great Recycle” campaign by Honest Tea, in partnership with the New York City Department of Sanitation and other environmental groups. They set up a massive 30-foot-tall blue bin and invited passersby to recycle on the spot. In return, they offered thank-you gifts like reusable bottles and drinks. Even better, it sparked conversations about sustainability in the middle of one of the busiest places on Earth.

Why It Worked

It was visible. It was easy. And it was fun. That combination matters. Many people want to do the right thing, but they need reminders — and access. By bringing the recycling message directly to the public in a high-traffic area, the organizers made it almost impossible to ignore.

Education Meets Action

Beyond collecting plastic and cans, the event taught people how recycling fits into the bigger picture. Volunteers shared facts about waste, climate change, and how every bottle reused helps reduce pollution. Many who participated said it made them rethink their habits — not just in Times Square, but at home too.

Large blue recycling bin shaped like a bottle in times square surrounded by people participating in a public recycling event amid tall buildings and digital billboards — AI

The Ripple Effect

The success didn’t end in New York. The Great Recycle tour hit other cities afterward, proving this model works. When people see recycling as a shared, positive act — not a chore — they engage. And from there, the change can grow.

The Takeaway

One day. One bin. Fifteen thousand chances to do better. That’s what the Great Recycle proved — even in a place like Times Square, small actions can lead to big shifts.

Sources: Honest Tea

greenlivingguy

The Green Living Guy, Seth Leitman is an independent power producer, a green living expert, and Editor of the McGraw-Hill, TAB Green Guru Guides. Seth is also an Author, Radio Host, Reporter, Writer and an Environmental Consultant on green living. The Green Living Guy writes about green living, green lighting, the green guru guides and more. Seth's books range from: # Build Your Own Electric Vehicle by Bob Brant and Seth Leitman (2nd and 3rd editions) # Build Your Own Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle by Seth Leitman # Build Your Own Electric Motorcycle by Carl Vogel # Green Lighting by Seth Leitman, Brian Clark Howard and Bill Brinsky # Solar Power For Your Home by David Findley # Renewable Energies For Your Home by Russel Gehrke # Do-it-Yourself Home Energy Audits by David Findley # Build Your Own Small Wind Power System by Brian Clark Howard and Kevin Shea # and more green living books to follow.

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