Coca-Cola Foundation, Benioff Ocean Initiative Giving $11 Million to Clean Rivers

By Chris Wack

The Coca-Cola Foundation and the Benioff Ocean Initiative at the University of California Santa Barbara's Marine Science Institute have picked nine river clean-up programs across the world to receive a total of $11 million over the next three years.

The Coca-Cola Foundation said the partnership won't only clean up some of the world's most polluted rivers, but will identify new ways to prevent plastic waste from entering rivers and oceans.

The programs selected for funding span Asia, Africa, North America and South America.

The Marea Verde project to clean up the Matias Hernandez River in Panama will be the first to receive funding. The foundations said Panama contributes an estimated 100,000 plus tons of marine trash a year, and more than 55% of that trash is plastics.

Eight other programs--in Vietnam, India, Indonesia, Ecuador, Mexico, Thailand, Jamaica and Kenya--are also being finalized for funding.

The Coca-Cola Foundation is the global philanthropic arm of the Coca-Cola Co. (KO).

Write to Chris Wack at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 15, 2020 10:35 ET (15:35 GMT)

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