By Robbyn Brooks and Jaine Treadwell

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month but KW Plastics companies hopes to keep the campaign going all year long.

The KW Plastics Relay for Life Team has launched its fund-raiser and recycling cart campaign “KW Kicks Cancer to the Curb.”

For a minimum $100 donation, environmentally conscious Troy residents will receive a pink recycling bin delivered to their home to use. All of the money received will go to the American Cancer Society.

“With this campaign, we hope to encourage local citizens to ‘Think pink, and green, too,” said Hollie Garner, KW Plastics Relay team captain. “KW and the City of Troy are big proponents of recycling, but when you have a pink container, it shows you stand for something else, too.”

The group tossed around the idea of different color cans, including the signature Relay purple. However, they felt pink was recognizable and would stand out along Troy’s roads.

“But just because it’s pink doesn’t mean you are only supporting breast cancer research,” Garner said. “The American Cancer Society works for every kind of cancer research.”

Once Troy residents donate $100 or more and request a pink container from KW, the Relay team will order the container and then turn paperwork over to the City of Troy. Pink bins will be delivered by Troy and recycling will still be picked up by the city on the day regularly scheduled in neighborhoods.

“We are grateful for the City of Troy, and particularly Environmental Services, support of our fund-raiser and the recycling program,” Garner said.

Right now, there are a limited number of pink carts and the deadline to order is Nov. 15. So far 10 of 108 carts have been reserved, but if the fund-raiser really takes off, there is a chance KW will be able to order more pink containers.

“Our goal is to have them all over Troy,” Garner said. “The more we sell, the more money we raise for cancer research.”

Garner said recycling is an important issue, and a plus to the fund-raiser will be reaching a new group of people to help spread the word about the benefits that can come from being conscious about the environment.

Only citizens that are currently received trash and recycling collection service by the City of Troy are eligible to receive the pink carts. However, donations can still be given to Relay for Life through the KW website.

To reserve a Pink cart or for more information, go to www.kwplastics.com/relayforlife or visit on Facebook at “Kick Cancer to the Curb.” Garner may also be reached at (334) 808-3379.

“The process is simple,” Garner said, noting that donations may be made online with a credit card, or mailed in if payment is a check.

Garner said, if people are interested in recycling, but perhaps can’t afford the $100 donation for Relay for Life and a pink cart, the City of Troy is also offering its citizens a rollout-recycling cart at no cost as a result of an Alabama Department of Environmental Management grant. The grant paid for 1,500 recycling carts that are available by calling 311.