Cleanzine: your weekly cleaning and hygiene industry newsletter 18th April 2024 Issue no. 1110
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A great initiative brings recycling to more public parks
Ed: Much of the litter we see throughout the developed world, is thanks to the general public leaving signs of eating and drinking 'on the hoof' around our landscape.
Despite it really being down to the individual when it comes to either littering or not littering, I like the idea that those supplying the food and drink are prepared to take responsibility for helping reduce littering...
I also found the reference guide, 'Planning for Success: Ten Tips for Designing Public Space Recycling Programmes' an interesting read.
Americans should expect to see cleaner public parks this Autumn thanks to a significant grant made possible by Dr Pepper Snapple Group in collaboration with Keep America Beautiful. The partnership's Bin Grant Programme is providing funding for 900 new recycling bins in public parks across the country in 2016, making recycling more accessible for Americans enjoying the outdoors.
Now in its fourth year, the public park recycling grant programme has awarded more than 3,400 recycling bins to Keep America Beautiful affiliates, local government and other community organisations across 28 states to expand the availability of recycling. This investment in recycling infrastructure has improved recycling accessibility and convenience in a variety of park settings, including neighbourhood and larger regional parks, beaches, athletic fields and walking trails.
This year, applicants who invested local funds to purchase additional recycling bins beyond those being awarded via grant were given preference in the review process, and those who didn't receive a bin grant this year qualified for discount pricing. Through the bin grants as well as these local investment incentives and discounts, there will be more than 1,000 new recycling bins in parks and other public spaces this year.
"We're taking aim at two challenges that communities face nationwide - cleaning up parks and other shared spaces and reducing the strain on landfills," says Vicki Draughn, vice president of corporate affairs for Dr Pepper Snapple Group. "Our partnership with Keep America Beautiful puts more recycling bins in more cities within reach of more consumers who are on-the-go, helping tackle both of those challenges."
The lack of away-from-home recycling opportunities is reflected in a recent national survey by Keep America Beautiful to understand where people normally recycle. While 92% said they recycled at home, only 19% indicated that they typically recycle in public parks. Additional research conducted by Keep America Beautiful indicated that only 12% of surveyed public locations had recycling infrastructure in place to recover the containers.
The Park Recycling Bin Grant Programme is designed to address the obstacle of overcoming a lack of recycling convenience.
"With the help of Dr Pepper Snapple Group, we're transforming public spaces into beautiful places by making sure more recyclables are being placed in proper receptacles in our parks and natural areas," says Brenda Pulley, senior vice president/recycling, Keep America Beautiful. "Our partnership is helping to make recycling more accessible and convenient, which is one of primary factors in making recycling a daily habit."
In addition to improving recycling opportunities, the grant programme will make additional funds available to Keep America Beautiful community-based affiliates or other grant recipients who commit to conducting a Litter Index in conjunction with the grant to help study the effects of the recycling bins on reducing litter in the immediate areas of the bins.
To learn more about public space recycling best practices, you can view 'Planning for Success: Ten Tips for Designing Public Space Recycling Programmes', a reference guide, at:
T: 203.659.3008 / 203.659.3014
E: [email protected] / [email protected]
W: www.kab.org
T: 972.673.5539
E: [email protected]
W: www.dpsg.com
4th August 2016