Sonoco Recycling Acquires American Recycling of South Carolina, LLC

Acquisition of MRF will expand Sonoco Recycling’s footprint in the Upstate

HARTSVILLE, S.C.--()--Sonoco Recycling, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Sonoco (NYSE: SON) and one of the largest packaging recyclers in North America, announced today that it has completed the acquisition of American Recycling of South Carolina’s Greenville location, a large material recovery facility (MRF). The new facility is expected to significantly increase Sonoco Recycling’s ability to meet rising demand in the Upstate.

“With this acquisition, Sonoco Recycling has significantly expanded its single-stream recycling capabilities in the Upstate,” said Jim Brown, vice president, Sonoco Recycling. “The Greenville MRF will help accelerate Sonoco Recycling’s current goal of doubling the volume of tons collected by 2014.”

The acquisition of the Greenville facility as Sonoco Recycling’s fifth MRF will expand Sonoco’s operations in one of the largest metro cities in South Carolina, securing its position as South Carolina’s recycling industry leader. The Company already has operations in Charleston, Columbia and Spartanburg.

Currently, Sonoco Recycling’s reclamation rates in South Carolina save approximately 843,000 cubic yards of landfill space, equating to enough landfill space for the annual disposal needs of over one million South Carolinians. The Company is heavily involved in numerous environmental initiatives such as the Carolina Recycling Association and the Southeastern Recycling Coalition; and participates as an environmental partner in local activities such as the S.C. Green Steps school program.

Founded in 2003, American Recycling of South Carolina, LLC is a leading processor of recyclable materials in the Southeast, with plastics and various grades of paper comprising the majority of processed materials. The facility offers services to all types of recovered material generators, including commercial printers, office complexes, municipalities, manufacturing and distribution facilities, commercial shredding companies, paper converters and merchants; providing flexible, customized programs that help clients increase efficiency, reduce waste and optimize their environmental stewardship.

A recycling leader with locations and expertise worldwide, Sonoco Recycling annually collects more than 3 million tons of old corrugated containers, various grades of paper, metals and plastics. In addition, the Company has experts who provide secure, reliable and innovative recycling solutions to residential and commercial customers. Sonoco Recycling operates five material recovery facilities (MRFs) and serves more than 125 communities in which curbside-collected residential and commercial materials are processed. The Company also provides recycling programs which identify waste reduction opportunities that reduce operating expenses for many of the largest consumer product companies in the U.S.

About American Recycling of South Carolina, LLC

American Recycling of South Carolina is one of the largest independently owned collectors, processors and marketers of recovered paper in the Carolinas. Owned and operated by Ron Moore, an industry veteran with over 20 years of experience in every facet of the recovered material business, American Recycling maintains a family-oriented approach to business in all interactions with its associates and customers. For more information, visit http://amrecycling.com/.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a $4.1 billion global manufacturer of industrial and consumer products and provider of packaging services, with more than 300 operations in 34 countries, serving customers in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2011/2012 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at http://www.sonoco.com/.

Contacts

Sonoco
Robin Montgomery, 843-383-7509
robin.montgomery@sonoco.com
or
American Recycling of South Carolina
Ron Moore, 864-277-7722
rmoore@amrecycling.com

Contacts

Sonoco
Robin Montgomery, 843-383-7509
robin.montgomery@sonoco.com
or
American Recycling of South Carolina
Ron Moore, 864-277-7722
rmoore@amrecycling.com