The 2017 Coca-Cola Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Program has awarded the Oak Bluffs Parks Department 12 recycling bins as part of a nationwide effort, with Keep America Beautiful, to make recycling bins more readily available in public spaces.
Initially the bins will be placed at Niantic Park, Veira Park, Penn Field, Inkwell Beach, Ocean Park, Post Office Square, Oak Bluffs Harbor, and public restrooms. “We are on a trial basis with the length of time and locations, to see how well received they are and where they work best,” Amy Billings, chairman of the parks and recreation department, told The Times in an email. “The parks director and highway department will keep track of the usage through this summer.”
In total, the Coca-Cola/Keep America Beautiful Public Space Recycling Bin Grant Program will provide 3,522 bins to college and universities, along with 996 bins to local governments and nonprofit organizations, according to a press release. The recycling bins are made possible through a grant from the Coca-Cola Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Coca-Cola Co.
Grant recipients were chosen by Keep America Beautiful based on their potential to collect the most cans and bottles, as well as other considerations, such as the extent of their need, recycling experience, and their ability to sustain the program in the future.
Established in 1953, Keep America Beautiful is a nonprofit organization that provides expertise and resources to help curb littering and improve recycling throughout the United States.