Cork Re-harvesting
As a follow up to last week’s post re: wine bottle closure recycling as mentioned in the LA Times, I did some research to find out what WillaKenzie could do to help out.
I found a couple of international organizations, one: ReCork- http://recork.org/ run by Amorim (blockbuster cork producer) and another called Cork ReHarvest- http://www.corkforest.org/cork_reharvest.php run by Cork Forest Conservation Alliance (located in Salem, OR).
From Cork ReHarvest: “The major goal for this recycling program was to ensure that we would not add to the corks’ carbon footprint. Transporting corks over long distances, using the postal service or package carriers, eliminates any environmental benefit in removing them from landfills. ”
Both non-profits work to gather used corks by placing collection bins in local grocery stores and other neighborhood locals. The corks are then re-purposed for consumer products such as cork flooring, or even those pulp inserts holding your wine bottles steady in its UPS box.
From the looks of it Cork ReHarvest out of Salem might be the best fit for WKE. I’m contacting them today to find out how to get involved. I may want all your used corks soon!
- Helen
