Sustain SC Partners with Coca-Cola Consolidated to gift Litter Gitter
March 17, 2023
Sustain SC and Coca-Cola Consolidated, the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States, installed a Litter Gitter on the University of South Carolina’s campus. The Litter Gitter, a patented tactical in-stream litter collection device, was unveiled at a special event on Thursday, March 16, installed by a team from the Osprey Initiative.
The Litter Gitter is a floating structure designed to collect litter and debris into a “trash trap” to prevent it from going farther downstream. The Litter Gitter was deployed on the Rocky Branch Creek which is a magnet for litter that is left on campus as wind, rain, and gravity direct it toward the stream channel. This area is a regular location for volunteer litter cleanups.
“We are thrilled to partner with Coca-Cola Consolidated on this meaningful initiative that will benefit the community both on-campus and beyond,” said Ethel Bunch, Founder and President of Sustain SC. “The Litter Gitter is a perfect example of our commitment to creating a circular economy. By capturing waste from waterways, we are able to prevent it from polluting our environment and harming wildlife, while also creating new opportunities for recycling and repurposing.”
The partnership is part of Coca-Cola Consolidated’s Refresh Recycle Renew initiative, which invests in collaborations to establish, promote, and maximize recycling programs to ensure the company’s own recycled plastic and aluminum packages are turned into new bottles and cans.
“Being Columbia’s local Coca-Cola bottler and the official fan refreshment of the Gamecocks comes with a responsibility to improve the communities we serve,” said Todd Marty, Senior Director of Sustainability at Coca-Cola Consolidated. “We embrace our responsibility to protect our environment and this Litter Gitter is one of the innovative programs we’ve developed to help collect and recycle our packaging.”
The installation of the Litter Gitter will assist the University’s Facilities Landscaping and Waste & Recycling Services in their efforts to keep campus clean. It will also provide opportunities for integrative learning experiences for current and future students, often facilitated by the Office of Sustainability and its student organization, Sustainable Carolina.
“The Litter Gitter is a welcomed addition to our campus and we are beyond grateful for the generosity and support, which will help our effort to establish a robust sustainable litter abatement plan,” said Larry Cook, director of the USC Office of Sustainability. “The visual impact of trapping and removing collected materials using this tool will be eye opening to our campus population and visitors. There is a ton of potential for this to grow into opportunities for student study and research while also meeting a practical and aesthetic need by removing litter from campus.”
Coca-Cola Consolidated has more than 1,300 teammates working at seven facilities in the state, including a production center in Bishopville, SC, a cooperative managed by Coca-Cola Consolidated.
About Sustain SC
Sustain SC is an economic development-driven organization that connects the sustainability goals of business in South Carolina with local solutions for the benefit of our economy, environment, and people.
About Coca-Cola Consolidated
Coca-Cola Consolidated is the largest Coca-Cola bottler in the United States. Our Purpose is to honor God in all we do, serve others, pursue excellence and grow profitably. For over 120 years, we have been deeply committed to the consumers, customers and communities we serve and passionate about the broad portfolio of beverages and services we offer. We make, sell and distribute beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and other partner companies in more than 300 brands and flavors across 14 states and the District of Columbia to approximately 60 million consumers.
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Coca-Cola Consolidated is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “COKE.” More information about the Company is available at www.cokeconsolidated.com. Follow Coca-Cola Consolidated on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
