Newly installed kiosks make bottle redemption easier and more convenient
BRISTOL, CT (January 14, 2025) – Stop & Shop and CLYNK, the technology innovator
revolutionizing beverage container recycling through turnkey bag drop redemption
solutions, today announced a new community-based recycling program that will address
the need to increase recycling access and sustainability efforts across Connecticut. A study
by the Conservation Law Foundation found that Connecticut’s bottle redemption rate was
just 45%, the second-lowest among New England states with bottle bills, ahead of only
Massachusetts which has a redemption rate of just 38%.
The program was launched at the Stop & Shop stores located in Bristol, at 597 Farmington
Avenue in the Bristol Plaza, and Simsbury, with three additional Central CT locations
expected to open in the next couple of months. Last July RecycIX, a bottle recycling center,
began operation in an industrial space in Bristol and will serve as the sole redemption
facility for all CLYNK locations in CT.
“Bristol is proud and excited to have the first CLYNK redemption center in the State! This is
a disruptive and innovative technology that will set the new standard in the State of
Connecticut for the way consumers are able to recycle redeemable beverage containers,”
stated Bristol Mayor, Jeffrey Caggiano.
“The partnership between CLYNK and Stop & Shop aims to foster a culture of sustainability
by encouraging recycling participation,” said Steve Iasimone, Stop & Shop’s Regional Vice
President. “This initiative is not only about convenience but also about empowering
consumers to make eco-friendly choices that have a lasting positive impact on the
environment”
“For too long, Connecticut citizens have not had an easy way to recycle and redeem their
beverage containers,” said Bridget O’Brien, Chief Operating Officer at CLYNK. “But today,
that changes. CLYNK is here to provide a convenient, clean, and rewarding way to do the
right thing – just like residents in Maine, New York, Iowa, and Oregon have been doing for
years,” said CLYNK Chief Commercial Officer, Bridget O’Brien.
CLYNK’s patented bag drop system makes recycling painless and a customer’s deposits easy
to save and redeem. CLYNK collects bags full of redeemable beverage containers from the
redemption center located in the Stop & Shop parking lot and processes them using high-tech
barcode scanners that instantly credit the deposits to a customer’s account. The
materials are then sold to manufacturers to help close the recycling loop and prevent more
waste from ending up in landfills and our oceans.
There are two ways that a customer can redeem the items they deposit:
CLYNK will process each container in a customer’s CLYNK bag and credit the customer’s
account with the exact deposit amount. A customer can also choose to fill each CLYNK bag
with 50 redeemable containers, and drop it off at the CLYNK redemption center, located in the
parking lot of Stop & Shop and $5.00 will be credited to their account instantly. A customer
can then head into Stop & Shop, withdraw the $5 cash slip, and redeem it with a store
associate.
Customers can track their recycling efforts through the app, and within two business days
CLYNK will process the returned bags, and the deposit refunds are available for Stop & Shop
customers to withdraw funds from their accounts either as cash or to purchase groceries.
About Stop & Shop:
A neighborhood grocer for more than 100 years, Stop & Shop is focused on delivering a
wide assortment of fresh, healthy options at great value through strong weekly sales and
everyday low prices. Its new GO Rewards loyalty program delivers personalized offers and
allows customers to earn points that can be redeemed for gas or groceries every time they
shop. Stop & Shop customers can choose however they want to shop – whether it’s in-store
or online, which offers both delivery and same-day pickup. The company is committed to
making an impact in its communities by fighting hunger and working to ensure no students
have to go to school hungry through its Stop & Shop School Food Pantry Program. The Stop &
Shop Supermarket Company LLC is an Ahold Delhaize USA Company and employs 54,000
associates and operates more than 350 stores throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New York, and New Jersey. To learn more about Stop & Shop, visit
www.stopandshop.com
About CLYNK:
CLYNK is the pioneering technology company that revolutionized bottle and can
redemption with its innovative “Bag Drop” system. Founded in 2005, CLYNK’s patented
platform enables grocers to effortlessly offer superior redemption services that drive foot
traffic, unlock high-impact marketing opportunities, and foster community engagement.
CLYNK’s tech-enabled solution provides a seamless redemption experience for consumers,
allowing them to quickly drop off bottles and cans at conveniently located solar and wind-powered
stations. With over 500,000 consumer accounts and having processed over 2.5
billion containers, CLYNK is changing the way consumers, retailers, and the beverage
industry approach sustainability and circularity for beverage containers. For more
information, visit www.clynk.com or https://ct.clynk.com/
Contact: Stephanie Cunha Stephanie.Cunha@stopandshop.com