The Coca-Cola Co., Atlanta, and Keep America Beautiful Inc. (KAB), Stamford, Conn., have  announced the Coca-Cola/KAB Recycling Bin Grant Program, an effort designed to promote and support community recycling. The grants are open to government agencies, civic organizations, schools and nonprofit groups. Recipients receive recycling bins and expertise from KAB on how to set up recycling programs.

The grant program is part of a $60 million investment by The Coca-Cola Co. in recycling initiatives in the U.S.

“Keep America Beautiful is excited to partner for the first time with Coca-Cola on the Recycling Bin Grant program,” says Alec Cooley, manager of recycling programs, KAB. “This program is a concrete way that Coca-Cola can partner with KAB and its affiliates and local community groups to expand public space recycling on a grassroots level.”

The spring 2010 grant cycle opens Monday, Feb. 1. Interested parties should visit http://bingrant.org to submit an online grant application through March 12, 2010. Successful applicants will be notified on or before April 22.

“Our company is committed to designing packages that are recyclable and resource efficient,” says April Crow, sustainable packaging manager, The Coca-Cola Co. “We also are focused on ensuring that there are strong end-markets for our packages by investing in commercial recycling and community collection programs like RecycleBank and the Recycling Bin Grant Program. We hope this program will encourage communities to expand recycling as we continue to close the loop for our products as well as other valuable recyclables.”