Our National Mall is often called "America's Front Yard" - but if the nearly two miles of open space in Washington were in your neighborhood, it would perpetually be trash day. The Mall is the hub of D.C. tourism, and as such, it attracts a lot of trash - nearly four tons every day, all of which goes straight to a landfill. There have never been recycling bins on the Mall, but thanks to a grant from the Coca-Cola foundation, visitors will be able to recycle their trash as soon as October.
The company's $1.1 million gift will sponsor a much-needed recycling program. Efforts will begin with a study over the summer to see how much waste is produced, and where the bins should go. The bins will make a huge difference: According to the Associated Press, the National Mall attracts about 25 million visitors a year — more than Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon combined. Hopefully, we'll soon say we treat America's Front Yard better than our own.
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Urban Green Girl 9:29PM May 11, 2009