The Coca-Cola Foundation, Keep America Beautiful Announce Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Recipients

STAMFORD, Conn., September 12, 2019 /3BL Media/ – National nonprofit Keep America Beautiful^® and The Coca-Cola Foundation today announced the recipients of their 2019 Coca-Cola Public Spaces Recycling Bin Grant Program in a combined effort to improve recycling collection in more public space locations throughout the country.

The 2019 program is distributing 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.

For the past 13 years, The Coca-Cola Foundation has supported the 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.

With bins placed at locations ranging from college campuses to fairs and festivals to downtown streetscapes and playgrounds 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 10.6 million individuals annually in these locations. Approximately, 54 percent of the exposure will take place in special event locations with the remaining access being served through the placement of year-round permanent bins. 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.

“This grant program has greatly expanded recycling opportunities in public spaces thanks to the significant commitment of The Coca-Cola Foundation to maximize public access to bins,” said Randy Hartmann, senior director of affiliate operations for Keep America Beautiful. “With over a third of all beverage containers consumed in the U.S. consumed on the go, we know the barriers to capture more containers in public spaces is relatively easy if we provide greater accessibility and convenience.”

Grant recipients were 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. A full list of the 2019 Coca-Cola Public Space Recycling Bin Grant recipients is available at bingrant.org.

“Supporting community recycling programs and providing increased access to recycling is a priority for The Coca-Cola Foundation. Through our longstanding partnership with Keep America Beautiful on the Recycling Bin grant program, we  can help communities improve access to recycling in public spaces, reduce litter and improve the environment,” said Helen Smith Price, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation.

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.

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