Coca-Cola and National Recycling Coalition Support 75 Community Recycling Programs Through Bin Grant Program

WASHINGTON, April 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Recycling programs in 75 and towns cities will get a boost this Earth Day with the addition of new recycling bins. The National Recycling Coalition and The Coca-Cola Company announced today the recipients of their Spring 2008 Recycling Bin Grant program. Chosen from 1,100 applications submitted, the 75 grant recipients represent a cross section of community groups, local governments, colleges and non profit organizations across the country. Grant recipients receive recycling bins from a preset list of options.

Grants were awarded to a diverse selection of applicants from 40 states and the District of Columbia, including 23 colleges and universities, 21 municipalities and other local government entities, 5 K-12 schools, 10 non profit organizations and additional community groups and Native American tribes. Recipients were chosen by NRC based on a number of criteria, including where bins are likely to have the most impact on recovering beverage containers from the waste stream, ability of recipients to sustain their program in the future, and intention to support collection programs with recycling education and promotion. The Bin Grant is sponsored by The Coca-Cola Company and is designed to promote and support community recycling in the U.S.

"The Bin Grant program is designed to help communities and organizations jump-start or expand their recycling programs and to further promote recycling of used bottles and cans," said Scott Vitters, director of sustainable packaging, The Coca-Cola Company. "Bottles and cans are valuable recyclables and can be reused to make new products as well as new bottles and cans. By making more recycling bins available, we hope to encourage people make recycling a habit in their daily lives."

"The response to this grant program has been phenomenal. The extent and diversity of applications solidly demonstrates how citizens across the nation are addressing recycling on a community level," said Kate Krebs, executive director of the National Recycling Coalition. "It's a privilege for NRC to partner with Coca-Cola to provide recycling collection bins that will build, expand and strengthen recycling programs at school, work and play."

The Bin Grant Program provides recycling bins directly to recipients and leverages the purchasing power and expertise of the NRC. Grants are offered twice a year in the fall and spring through an online application process. A full list of the Spring 2008 Bin Grant recipients is below. The Fall 2008 grant application period will begin on September 22 and extend through October 24. Further information about the grant program is available at http://www.bingrant.org/.

About the NRC

The NRC is a national, non-profit advocacy group with members that span all aspects of waste reduction, reuse and recycling in North America. NRC's objective is to eliminate waste and promote sustainable economies though advancing sound management practices for raw materials in North America. NRC works with its members and partners to sponsor programs and stakeholder forums that provide tools and nurture solutions for the recycling industry. Breaking new ground in how Americans think about waste, the Coalition is a strong and clear voice for recycling. For more information about the NRC please visit http://www.nrc-recycle.org/.

About The Coca-Cola Company

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's largest non-alcoholic beverage company. Along with the Coca-Cola(R) trademark, recognized as the world's most valuable brand, the Company markets four of the world's top five nonalcoholic sparkling beverage brands, including the Diet Coke(R), Fanta(R) and Sprite(R) brands, and a wide range of other beverages, including diet and light beverages, waters, juices and juice drinks, teas, coffees, energy and sports drinks. Through the world's largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy the Company's beverages at a rate exceeding 1.4 billion servings each day. For more information about The Coca-Cola Company, please visit our website at http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com.

    Spring 2008 Bin Grant Recipients

    Naknek Native Village Council                       Naknek, AK
    Port Graham Village Council                         Port Graham, AK
    University of Alabama Student Government Assoc.     Tuscaloosa, AL
    Recycle Ajo                                         Ajo, AZ
    City of Tucson                                      Tucson, AZ
    High Country Conservation Center                    Frisco, CO
    University of Colorado at Colorado Springs          Colorado Springs, CO
    Borough of Naugatuck,                               Naugatuck, CT
    Town of Harwinton                                   Harwinton, CT
    Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration         Mystic, CT
    Georgetown University                               Washington, DC
    Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta           Dunwoody, GA
    North Georgia College and State University          Dahlonega, GA
    Berry College                                       Mount Berry, GA
    Lakeside High School                                Atlanta, GA
    Zoo Atlanta                                         Atlanta, GA
    Bishop Museum                                       Honolulu, HI
    Dept of Veterans Affairs                            Iowa City, IA
    Canyon County Fair & Festival                       Caldwell, ID
    Crawford Solid Waste Recycle Center                 Robinson, IL
    Naperville Park District                            Naperville, IL
    Beverly Farm Foundation                             Godfrey, IL
    Eastern Illinois University                         Charleston, IL
    Champaign Park District                             Champaign, IL
    Anderson University                                 Anderson, IN
    Green Broad Ripple, Inc                             Indianapolis, IN
    Sunflower Diversified Services                      Great Bend, KS
    East Baton Rouge Parish                             Baton Rouge, LA
    Town of Chatham                                     Chatham, MA
    University of Maine at Machias Green Council        Machias, ME
    Mid Michigan Waste Authority                        Saginaw, MI
    Carver County 4-H                                   Farmington, MN
    Metropolitan Community College-Blue River           Independence, MO
    Petal Relay For Life                                Petal, MS
    Town of West Yellowstone                            West Yellowstone, MT
    Marine Corps Air Station - New River                Jacksonville, NC
    Watauga County Recycling                            Boone, NC
    International Music Camp                            Minot, ND
    Unitarian Church of Lincoln                         Lincoln, NE
    Milltown Fourth of July Committee                   Milltown, NJ
    New Jersey Institute of Technology Campus Center    Newark, NJ
    New Jersey Community Development Corporation        Paterson, NJ
    McKinley Citizens' Recycling Council                Gallup, NM
    University of New Mexico                            Albuquerque, NM
    Institute of American Indian Arts                   Santa Fe, NM
    Fulton County Dept. of Solid Waste                  Johnstown, NY
    Wells College                                       Aurora, NY
    Depot Theatre                                       Westport, NY
    Otterbein College                                   Westerville, OH
    Adams Brown Recycling                               Georgetown, OH
    Oklahoma City Community College                     Oklahoma City, OK
    Modoc Tribe of Oklahoma                             Miami, OK
    Town of Bloomsburg                                  Bloomsburg, PA
    Delaware Valley College                             Doylestown, PA
    Spotlight Performing Arts Academy                   Pittsburgh, PA
    Centre County Solid Waste Authority                 Bellefonte, PA
    City of Providence                                  Providence, RI
    North Myrtle Beach High School                      Little River, SC
    Lower Brule Sioux Tribe                             Lower Brule, SD
    Carson-Newman College                               Jefferson City, TN
    University of Tennessee, Knoxville                  Knoxville, TN
    Tennessee Aquarium                                  Chattanooga, TN
    Keep Waco Beautiful                                 Waco, TX
    North Lake College GREEN Club                       Irving, TX
    Texas A&M Environmental Issues Committee            College Station, TX
    City of Victoria                                    Victoria, TX
    East Carbon City                                    East Carbon, UT
    NeighborWorks Salt Lake                             Salt Lake City, UT
    Shenandoah County Fair Association                  Woodstock, VA
    Craig County High School FCCLA                      New Castle, VA
    College of Menominee Nation                         Keshena, WI
    Appleton Downtown                                   Appleton, WI
    Fairmont State University STAND                     Fairmont, WV
    Sublette County School District #1-Pinedale School  Pinedale, WY