Last month, Rubicon® announced the launch of Trick or Trash™ 2021, the company’s annual recycling and education campaign designed to help reduce the waste that accumulates every year around Halloween.

This year’s program includes three new corporate partners—Cox Communications, Arby’s Foundation, and g2 revolution—whose presence will enable the campaign to reach even more communities and individuals than ever. We are also thrilled to welcome back our official education partner of Trick or Trash, the National Wildlife Federation, which has the critical job of providing the educational component of the campaign, with a focus on the role of recycling within the circular economy.

In this Trick or Trash Spotlight, I am going to dive into all four of this year’s world-class partners, looking at why they chose to partner with the program, as well as hearing from the partners themselves.

Cox Communications

Cox Communications, a leading cable television and telecommunications provider and longtime Rubicon partner, has joined Trick or Trash as the official media sponsor. The company has pledged to place hundreds of Trick or Trash boxes in the communities that Cox serves.

In a recent conversation with Ira Pearl, Vice President of Environmental Sustainability for Cox Enterprises, Cox Communications’ parent company, Ira noted of the company’s participation in Rubicon’s Trick or Trash campaign: “As a global leader in sustainability, our goal is not only to reduce our impact on the environment, but encourage others to do the same. The Trick or Trash program is yet another opportunity to educate and empower young people to reduce waste, embrace recycling, and contribute to a more sustainable community.”

The Arby’s Foundation

The Arby’s Foundation, the independent charitable arm of Arby’s, has come aboard as Trick or Trash’s official charity partner, building on its long-established commitment to helping young people improve their lives through a range of programs, including confronting childhood hunger, improving educational outcomes, and supporting national and local volunteering programs. Given its community focus, Trick or Trash complements the Foundation’s other initiatives.

Emily Crawford of the Arby’s Foundation said of the company’s participation in Rubicon’s Trick or Trash campaign: “At Arby’s, we are committed to helping kids dream big and those dreams begin with having opportunities to experience and learn new things. That’s why we are thrilled to join Trick or Trash 2021. Rubicon’s innovative program not only reduces waste and protects our environment but also educates kids on the importance of recycling and creating a more sustainable world. This was a perfect opportunity to bring our mission and values together in a fun, engaging campaign.”

g2 revolution

For this year’s Trick or Trash campaign, the processing of the candy wrappers is being managed by Rubicon’s long-time partner, g2 revolution, an innovative recycling company that develops sustainable Second Life® solutions to divert waste from landfills through reuse, recycling, or recovery of usable ingredients to make new products or to generate energy. Trick or Trash participants will each receive a Certificate of Recycling, confirming the exact weight of material diverted from landfill and enabling them to share the positive impact of their collection efforts with their community.

Tonya Martin, Vice President of Business Development at g2 revolution said of the company’s work with Rubicon: “Since our founding in 2008, g2’s mission has been to make recycling easier for businesses everywhere. We are excited to build on our new partnership with Rubicon and to continue to change the way the world recycles.”

The National Wildlife Federation

The National Wildlife Federation returns as the official education partner of Trick or Trash for 2021. The critical educational component of the campaign, co-created by Rubicon and the National Wildlife Federation, focuses on the role of recycling within the circular economy, and has expanded in 2021 to include, in addition to the K-12 lesson plans and other content from prior years, a reading list for university and college students, and a useful factsheet for business participants. The National Wildlife Federation hopes to introduce campus sustainability teams to the Trick or Trash program as part of its Campus Race to Zero Waste initiative, a nationwide recycling competition which Rubicon also supports.

Collin O’Mara, president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, Collin noted of the federation’s participation in Rubicon’s Trick or Trash campaign: “Educating and inspiring the next generation of environmental and wildlife champions is central to our work and mission at the National Wildlife Federation. We’re proud to return as a partner to Rubicon on the Trick or Trash campaign to show millions of Americans how small steps, like reducing waste and recycling, can help recover wildlife populations and restore natural resources. By bringing together students, teachers, and business owners to reduce waste from contaminating our lands and waters, we will both ensure healthier communities for people and save habitat for imperiled wildlife.”

Katie Kinnear is Director of Engagement Strategy at Rubicon and was the inspiration behind creating the Trick or Trash campaign. To stay ahead of Rubicon’s announcements of new partnerships and collaborations around the world, be sure to follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter, or contact us today.