4.22.2008 - 02:02pm ET

(CSRwire) 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 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 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