In an effort to make recycling bins more readily available and convenient, Keep America Beautiful and The Coca-Cola Foundation are awarding 62 grants to communities in 30 states. Specifically, the Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Program will provide 3,522 recycling bins to colleges and universities and 996 bins to local governments and nonprofit organizations.

Out of the 4,518 bins, 45 percent are designed specifically for permanent, ongoing use in public spaces and 55 percent are designed to be used in college residence halls. With these bins, approximately 1 million pounds of recyclable materials are expected to be collected during their first year in use.

“The number one thing we can do to get people to recycle is make it convenient,” said Brenda Pulley, senior vice president of recycling for Keep America Beautiful, in a press release. “With Coca-Cola’s continued support, the grant program addresses that need by creating thousands of new opportunities for people to recycle in public areas across the country.”

The grant recipients were selected by Keep America Beautiful based on their potential to collect the most cans and bottles and other considerations like the extent of their need, recycling experience and their ability to sustain the program in the future. Additionally, preference was given to applicants that agreed to make a matching purchase of additional recycling bins beyond those provided through the grant.

"At Coca-Cola, we are working with partners across the country to invest in, and support, a strong recycling system," said Bruce Karas, vice president of sustainability for Coca-Cola North America, in a press release. "Through partnerships like the Keep America Beautiful Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Program, we can help reduce overall waste by making it even easier and more convenient for people to recycle both at home and in public spaces."