Building a Circular Economy in SC
Global companies like Coca-Cola Consolidated are harnessing the economic opportunity in South Carolina and helping build the circular economy by capturing plastic waste
In March 2023, Sustain SC and Coca-Cola Consolidated installed a Litter Gitter on the University of South Carolina’s campus. The Litter Gitter is a floating structure designed to collect litter and debris into a “trash trap” to prevent it from going farther downstream. Installed by a team from the Osprey Initiative, it 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.
The Litter Gitter is a perfect example of commitments to creating a circular economy. By capturing waste from waterways, it prevents trash from polluting the 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.
“If there is going to be a large-scale change, it’s going to be from businesses,” said Don Bates, Founder of the Osprey Initiative. “I’m seeing an honest effort from Coca-Cola Consolidated. Coke is committed to this.”
“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.”
Since its installment, the Litter Gitter has collected nearly 143 pounds of trash consisting of 60-percent plastic and 20-percent Styrofoam.
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.
