Environmental Organization, INFORM, Will Be Awarded A $10,000
Grant
BELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 29, 2008--Coinstar, Inc.
today announced that New York City has won its 'Coinstar's Greenest
City' contest. The Big Apple beat out nine other cities to win the
title and a $10,000 grant for the New York-based environmental
non-profit organization INFORM. The non-profit plans to apply their
grant to their "Recycle Your Cell Phone Campaign." During the
month-long contest ending Oct. 15, the New York City area had the
highest percentage increase in coin cash-ins at Coinstar Centers
compared to a year ago. Consumers put approximately 200 million coins
back into circulation.
As part of Coinstar's Change for our Earth initiative, cities were
challenged with reusing idle coin in their city to reduce the need for
new coin production. In turn, this lowers environmental impacts
associated with primary copper production and preserves natural
resources. Coinstar estimates that there is over $10 billion in idle
change sitting in U.S. households, with an estimated $687 million in
the New York City area.
"This contest proves that individual actions can make a
significant impact on improving the environment as demonstrated by the
residents of New York City," said Alex Camara, senior vice president
of worldwide coin at Coinstar, Inc. "We are encouraged by the
enthusiasm of participants across the country to find creative
solutions, like reusing coins, that will lead us to a more
environmentally-friendly future."
INFORM, Inc. will use the $10,000 grant to help raise awareness of
their 'Recycle Your Cell Phone Campaign' that educates the public
about the need to recycle and how to do it responsibly. They also plan
on advocating for making wireless telephone service providers
responsible for taking back their products at the end of their useful
life.
"We are thrilled with the outcome of this contest and to have the
opportunity to spread the word about cell phone recycling," said
Virginia Ramsey, President of INFORM. "We'd like to thank the
residents of New York City for taking the time to cash in their change
for this contest and for helping us win the $10,000 grant."
The top five cities that competed in 'Coinstar's Greenest City'
contest are as follows:
1. New York City, New York
2. Seattle, Washington
3. San Francisco, California
4. Chicago, Illinois
5. Atlanta, Georgia
Coinstar encourages Americans to reuse coin in whatever way best
suits their needs, whether it's donating it to charity, using it for
parking meters, putting it toward cash transactions or cashing in at a
Coinstar Center. For more information, visit
www.changeforourearth.com. Consumers always receive free coin counting
at Coinstar Centers when they choose to place the value of their
change onto a gift card or eCertificate from a variety of national
retailers including Amazon.com, Lowe's, iTunes, Starbucks, Old Navy
and more.
About Coinstar, Inc.
Coinstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSTR) is a multi-national company offering
a range of 4th Wall(TM) solutions for the retailers' front of store
consisting of self-service coin counting, money transfer, electronic
payment solutions, entertainment services and self-service DVD rental.
The Company's products and services can be found at more than 50,000
retail locations including supermarkets, drug stores, mass merchants,
financial institutions, convenience stores and restaurants. For more
information, visit www.coinstar.com.
About INFORM, Inc.
INFORM, Inc. (www.informinc.org) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to educating the public about the effects of human activity
on the environment and human health with the goal of empowering
citizens, business and government to adopt practices and policies that
will sustain the planet and future generations.
CONTACT: Coinstar, Inc.
Sarah Jones, 425-943-8121
sjones@coinstar.com
or
Porter Novelli for Coinstar, Inc.
Sydney Siegmeth, 206-770-7011
Sydney.Siegmeth@porternovelli.com
SOURCE: Coinstar, Inc.