Since 2010, more than 34,000 recycling bins have been distributed through the Coca-Cola/KAB Recycling Bin Grant Program. In the past six years, 4.4 million people have been reached through this program with 450 organizations receiving grants.
This year, Coca-Cola has expanded its investment in the bin grant program to include a specific focus on two-year community colleges. Additionally, the bin grant program will also include four-year colleges and universities, as well as the traditional public space recycling bin grants. The program is expected to award over 4,500 bins and result in a projected 1.6 million pounds of recyclable materials collected during their first year in use.
“Providing much-needed public space recycling infrastructure is an important national initiative for our organization and a key component to increasing the nation’s recycling rates,” said Brenda Pulley, senior vice president, recycling, Keep America Beautiful. “We are truly grateful to Coca-Cola for its continued support in providing more local organizations with such significant number of recycling bins.”
“Through this partnership with Keep America Beautiful, we help to increase recycling rates and recover our packaging for future use,” said Lori George Billingsley, vice president, community relations, Coca-Cola North America. “This collaborative effort not only helps the environment today, it also builds more sustainable communities for the future.
Grant applications will be available online through March 3, 2014.
Eligible recipients for the public space grant include government agencies, civic organizations, schools and nonprofit groups. All colleges and universities will be eligible for the college-specific grant. Successful applicants will be notified by Keep America Beautiful in April 2014 to offer guidance, confirm their needs and solidify bin selection. Suppliers will deliver bins directly to the recipients throughout the summer.
About Keep America Beautiful
At Keep America Beautiful, we want to ensure that beauty is our lasting signature. A leading national nonprofit, Keep America Beautiful inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. We envision a country in which every community is a clean, green, and beautiful place to live. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful provides the expertise, programs and resources to help people End Littering, Improve Recycling, and Beautify America’s Communities. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 620 state and community-based Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the support of corporate partners, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals.
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
Since its inception, The Coca-Cola Foundation has awarded more than $500 million to support global sustainable community initiatives, including water stewardship, community recycling, active healthy living, and education.
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