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Coca-Cola, National Recycling Coalition Launch Recycle Bin Grant Program

October 1, 2007

On Oct. 4, Coca-Cola and the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) announced a new recycling bin grant program designed to promote and support community recycling.

Through this grant, recipients will have the benefit of both the donated recycle bins and the expertise on how to set up recycling programs from the NRC. Grants will be provided for recycle bins at sporting events, music venues, schools and commercial locations.

"We are excited to partner with Coca-Cola to offer a recycling bin grant program to communities and businesses," said Kate Krebs, NRC executive director. "The program is designed to increase recycling rates across the country by helping to off-set the initial costs of recycling bins."

The bin grant program leverages the purchasing power and expertise of the NRC and Coca-Cola to provide more recycling bins than would be possible if grant recipients were to purchase bins independently, officials said. The NRC also will contact grantees to offer guidance and consultation on setting up a recycling program, assess recycling bin needs and determine bin selection. NRC bin suppliers will then deliver bins directly to the recipients.

The grant program is open to city, government and school organizations as well as non-profit groups and for-profit companies. Eligible grant activities include establishing a recycling program at schools, universities, sporting or recreation venues, parks, cultural events or business and commercial locations. Grant recipients will be selected and awarded recycling bins throughout 2008.

"Coca-Cola has a long history of designing packages that are recyclable and resource efficient," said Scott Vitters, director of sustainable packaging, the Coca-Cola Co. "We also are focused on ensuring strong end-markets for our packages through investments in commercial recycling and community collection programs like RecycleBank and the bin grant program. We hope this new program will further encourage communities to make recycling available as we continue to close the loop for our products as well as other valuable recyclables."