Grant Boosts Hospital Recycling Program, Educates Community

A national recycling program will provide Riverside County Regional Medical Center with 75 recycling bins that would normally cost $6,400 and could help the hospital recycle more than 270,000 glass and plastic bottles, and aluminum cans, each year. The effort is a joint project between Riverside County’s Board of Supervisors, the Economic Development Agency and the Waste Management Department, as part of a program made possible by Keep America Beautiful and The Coca-Cola Foundation. In its ninth year, the national program is providing nearly 4,500 recycling bins to colleges and universities, nonprofits and local governments, with more than 65 percent of the total designed specifically for permanent, ongoing use in heavily trafficked public spaces and events. Supervisor Marion Ashley urged all county residents to become involved with recycling, noting that one pound equals about 30 crushed cans, 12 empty 12 oz. plastic bottles, or two glass bottles. “We can all help every single day to conserve energy, reduce carbon emissions and protect our natural resources,” he said. The regional medical center is a 520,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility licensed for 439 total beds, with 12 operating rooms. There are over 100,000 emergency room visits and 2,500 babies born at the hospital every year. County Executive Officer Jay Orr said efforts like the grant program not only help improve the community, but inspire county employees and residents to do their part. “Strong community recycling programs contribute to a healthy community,” he said. “It is good for the environment and it saves money.” The program is part of Coca Cola’s more than half-century partnership with Keep America Beautiful. Since 2007, the program has placed more than 35,000 recycling bins in over 500 communities across the United States and recycled 2.5 million pounds of materials. Hospital officials thanked both for their support and for the opportunity to make a difference locally. “With this program, we will be educating visitors and our staff about being a much greener organization, and that helps the environment,” said Jennifer Cruikshank, the hospital’s chief operations officer. The national program provides recycling bins directly to recipients, who are chosen by Keep America Beautiful based on criteria including need, recycling experience and the ability to sustain the program in the future. “Community recycling not only affects the environment today, it helps build sustainable communities for the future,” said Lori George Billingsley, a spokesperson for Coca-Cola North America. “By providing recycling bins to communities, organizations and universities, we can make a difference in increasing recycling in the United States and help overcome a main barrier of recycling – convenience. We are truly grateful for Coca-Cola’s continued support,” said Brenda Pulley, a spokesperson for Keep America Beautiful.