Pat Franklin, founder of the Container Recycling Institute (CRI), died Oct. 14 from an auto accident.

Franklin, 71, was struck by a pickup truck crossing a street in Oakland, Md., preparing to make a drop-off at a recycling center. Susan Collins, current president of the Culver City, Calif.-CRI, confirmed the facts in an e-mail.

Franklin started the CRI in 1992 and became one of the prominent experts in container recycling and bottle bills. She retired as executive director in 2007. Following her retirement, Franklin continued with CRI as a consultant and an advocate of container recycling.

"Pat was a shining light in the recycling movement," wrote Jenny Gitlitz, former CRI research director, in an e-mail.

Franklin is survived ber husband of 48 years, Jay, and two children.