The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay is offering free 55-gallon barrels to local watershed organizations and environmental education groups through a partnership with Baltimore Coca-Cola Bottling Company.

Rain barrels save money on water bills by collecting rain water that can be used for plants and gardens. By intercepting rain before it flows off a property, rain barrels also reduce polluted runoff to local streams, storm drains and the Bay.

“The Alliance believes in the benefits of developing a partnership and program such as this one because we focus on creating collaborative solutions with area businesses,” according to Lou Etgen, Interim Director for the Alliance. ”We will continue to work to protect the Chesapeake Bay, our nation’s largest and most productive estuary.”

“The protection and conservation of our region’s watersheds is a leading concern for everyone in our community, including businesses, nonprofits, local and state governments and residents,” said Curtis L. Etherly, Jr., Vice President for Public Affairs and Communications for Baltimore Coca-Cola Bottling. “In conjunction with our other corporate responsibility and sustainability efforts, the conversion of our concentrate barrels into rainwater harvesting containers adds an entirely new dimension to our ongoing efforts around finding ways to reuse, renew and recycle resources across every facet of our business."

Reuse of these barrels not only helps the Alliance’s efforts to protect the Bay, but also saves energy by cutting down on the amount of barrels Coca-Cola has to recycle.

So far, Coca-Cola Bottling Company has donated more than 250 Coca-Cola syrup barrels to the Alliance. The reuse of these 55-gallon barrels will not only help in the effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but also eliminate the energy Baltimore Coca-Cola would expend recycling the plastic barrels.

Those interested in obtaining free rain barrels can call the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay at 410-377-6270.

8/29/2008