Grants Made Available to Increase Public Space Recycling Collection Infrastructure
STAMFORD, Conn. (Dec. 4, 2019) — The Coca-Cola Foundation and national nonprofit Keep America Beautiful® today announced the application period for the 2020 Keep America Beautiful/Coca-Cola Public Spaces Recycling Bin Grant Program is open through Dec. 31 (11:59 p.m. EST), 2019.
The 2019 Coca-Cola Public Spaces Recycling Bin Grant Program distributed public space recycling bins to 31 organizations, including Keep America Beautiful community-based affiliates as well as government agencies, colleges and universities, and Native American tribal locations in 19 states.
It’s estimated that one-third of all beverage containers are consumed on the go, which highlights why The Coca-Cola Foundation and Keep America Beautiful are seeking to increase public space recycling accessibility in more locations throughout the country. For the past 13 years, The Coca-Cola Foundation has supported the grant program, which has donated recycling bins to more than 1,000 communities in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Over the history of the program, more than 37,000 public space recycling bins have been awarded, providing opportunities for recycling on the go to more than 2 million people daily.
Grant recipients will be chosen by Keep America Beautiful based on their potential to collect the most cans and bottles as well other considerations such as creating new or expanding access to recycling in a community; providing greater numbers of people with exposure or access to collection bins; providing access in environmentally sensitive areas, e.g. along waterways; and the long-term potential of the public space recycling efforts to increase recycling participation in a community. To better prepare an application, refer to The Coca-Cola Public Spaces Recycling Toolkit posted on the Keep America Beautiful website.
“This recycling bin grant program seeks to establish new recycling opportunities, expose individuals to recycling, and reinforce the importance of recycling on the go, with the goal of a ‘world without waste,’ where all bottles and cans consumed are returned for recycling,” said Randy Hartmann, senior director of affiliate operations for Keep America Beautiful.
With bins placed at locations ranging from downtown streetscapes, parks, beaches, athletic fields, academic buildings, plazas and other on-the-go settings, Keep America Beautiful and Coca-Cola estimate public space recycling will be given greater visibility and access to an estimated 10 million individuals annually in these locations with a goal of collecting an estimated 11 million aluminum, plastic and glass beverage containers annually. The program is funded through a $350,000 grant from The Coca-Cola Foundation to Keep America Beautiful, which in turn awards recycling bins through a competitive, merit-based application process.
About The Coca-Cola Foundation
The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of The Coca-Cola Company. Since its inception in 1984, the Foundation has awarded more than $1 billion in grants to support sustainable community initiatives around the world. For more information about The Coca-Cola Foundation, please visit www.coca-colacompany.com/our-company/the-coca-cola-foundation.
About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement nonprofit organization, inspires and educates people to take action every day to improve and beautify their community environment. Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful strives to End Littering, Improve Recycling and Beautify America’s Communities. We believe everyone has a right to live in a clean, green and beautiful community, and shares a responsibility to contribute to that vision.
Behavior change – steeped in education, research and behavioral science – is the cornerstone of Keep America Beautiful. We empower generations of community and environmental stewards with volunteer programs, hands-on experiences, educational curricula, practical advice and other resources. The organization is driven by the work and passion of more than 600 Keep America Beautiful affiliates, millions of volunteers, and the collaborative support of corporate partners, social and civic service organizations, academia, municipalities, elected officials, and individuals. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube. Donate and take action at kab.org.