PetSmart and TerraCycle Launch Pet Food Bag Recycling Program in Arizona and New Jersey

New pilot program lets pet parents recycle pet food, treat and cat litter bags

PHOENIX (Oct. 17, 2024) - As part of its efforts to expand consumer access to sustainable products and programs, PetSmart is partnering with TerraCycle^®, the international leader in recycling hard-to-recycle materials, to launch an in-store recycling program for all brands of empty pet food, treat and cat litter bags made from flexible plastic. The PetSmart Pet Food & Treat Bags Free Recycling Program is now in 100 PetSmart stores across Arizona and New Jersey. The recycling initiative makes it easier for pet parents to embrace sustainable practices, keeping common waste packaging out of the landfill.

"We hear pet parents express their desire to reduce their pet's impact on the planet," said Joanne Dwyer, vice president of corporate social responsibility and corporate communications at PetSmart. "Through our partnership with TerraCycle, we are making it easier for pet parents to take small sustainable actions. Focused on recycling those products pet parents buy over and over again, we believe these small actions will add up to make a big impact."

The U.S. pet food industry produces an estimated 300 million pounds of plastic waste annually, most of which is not accepted through curbside recycling services. As a result, 99% of all pet food packaging is thrown away rather than recycled. The PetSmart recycling program tackles this problem by allowing consumers to collect and recycle their empty pet food, treat and litter bags, keeping them out of landfills and incinerators.

"There's a common misconception that empty pet food and treat bags are destined for the trash," said Tom Szaky, founder and CEO of TerraCycle. "Our partnership with PetSmart makes it easy and convenient for pet owners to recycle these materials, helping to set a new benchmark in the pet retail industry."

Consumers can drop off empty pet food, treat or cat litter bags in designated recycling bins at participating PetSmart locations. Once received at TerraCycle's material recovery facilities, the plastic packaging is shredded, cleaned and transformed into raw materials used to make new recycled products. Learn more about how TerraCycle recycles the hard-to-recycle.

Every PetSmart store in Arizona and New Jersey will be participating in the pilot program. To search for the nearest participating PetSmart location or to learn more about the PetSmart Pet Food & Treat Bags Free Recycling Program, visit www.terracycle.com/petsmart.

About PetSmart
PetSmart is the leading pet retailer offering products, services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. At PetSmart, we love pets and we believe pets make us better people. Every day with every connection, PetSmart's passionate associates help bring pet parents closer to their pets so together they can live more fulfilled lives. This vision impacts everything we do for our customers, the way we support our associates and how we give back to our communities.

PetSmart operates nearly 1,700 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel® dog and cat boarding facilities. We provide a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products as well as services such as dog training, pet grooming, pet boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp™ and pet adoption.

PetSmart, PetSmart Charities^® and PetSmart Charities^® of Canada work with nearly 4,000 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated over 10 million adoptions, more than any other brick-and-mortar organization.

About TerraCycle
TerraCycle is an international leader in innovative sustainability solutions, creating and operating first-of-their-kind platforms in recycling, recycled materials, and reuse. Across 21 countries, TerraCycle is on a mission to rethink waste and develop practical solutions for today's complex waste challenges. The company engages an expansive multi-stakeholder community across a wide range of accessible programs, from Fortune 500 companies to schools and individuals. To learn more about TerraCycle and join them on their journey to move the world from a linear economy to a circular one, please visit www.terracycle.com.

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