ATLANTA (Feb. 3, 11:50 a.m. ET) -- Coca-Cola Co. is increasing the amount of money it allocates to its bin grant program that helps municipalities, communities, organizations, government agencies, schools, colleges and universities purchase recycling bins to $350,000.

Fort the first time, Coke’s aid to Keep America Beautiful in 2012 will be two separate grants: $150,000 for colleges and universities, and $200,000 for everyone else. Since the program started in 2007, funding has been a single grant, typically around $200,000.

“We decided to extend the bin grant program in order to reach more schools [as] several of the bin grant recipients in recent years have been colleges and universities,” said a Coke spokeswoman.

“We hope that by expanding this program to include additional funding dedicated to colleges and universities, we can further improve recycling and have a positive impact on the next generation of leaders,” added Lori George Billingsley, community relations vice president for Coca-Cola Refreshments.

Since 2007, the grants have purchased more than 20,000 recycling bins across the United States. KAB has been managing the program for Coca-Cola since 2009.

The recycling bins are delivered directly to the grant recipients, with the program funded by the Coca-Cola Foundation.

All interested groups interested in receiving a grant have until March 2, to submit an online application at http://bingrant.org. The program is open to government agencies, civic organizations, schools, nonprofit groups, colleges and universities.