ReCycle North “Less Waste… More Opportunity”

ReCycle North Founded in 1991 by Ron Krup Established to address: Waste management Homelessness Approach: Transformational: educating individuals about reducing solid waste

ReCycle North 12 years later: still combines an environmental mission with a social purpose Reduce amount of reusable/repairable household items that are dumped in landfills Provide job skills and technical training Donate items to low-income individuals

ReCycle North Reuse People donate items which are available for sale in Household Goods Retail Store, 266 Pine St., Burlington (nominal fees are charged to donate items) Building Materials Center provides building materials for homeowners and low-income housing developers

ReCycle North Reuse Since 1991, reuse operations have generated $4.3 million Sales figures are used to quantify the reduction of solid waste to area landfills

ReCycle North Training Apprentice-Style Training Major appliance repair Computer systems technology Customer service and retail management Office administration

ReCycle North Training Work Experience Training Basic work skills for individuals with disabilities, low-income youth, and long-term unemployed

ReCycle North Training Community Service Learning Individuals referred from Department of Corrections Individuals on public assistance

ReCycle North Poverty Relief Committed to an annual donation of $50,000 worth of household goods and services Vouchers given to area social agencies that in turn provide them to their clients to use for RCN household goods and services

ReCycle North What Works Operating Budget/Financial Structure Non-profit 501 C 3 Annual operating budget of $1.4 million –$1.2 million in revenue from sales of donated goods –Remaining balance from monetary donations, grants, and income from training programs –Ended 2002 with a surplus of $38,790

ReCycle North What Works Operating Budget/Financial Structure Almost 90% of budget used for program services (reuse, job training, poverty relief) 9.2%used for administration/general expense 1.6% used for fundraising/development

ReCycle North What Works Organizational Structure Executive Director reports to Board Nine-Member Board of Directors –“Eyes from the Community” –Active in Strategic Planning/Goal Setting –Approve purchases over $1,000 –Make RCN their primary charity when it comes to donating their money

ReCycle North What Works Strategic Planning/Goal Setting Considers itself entrepreneurial Creates annual business plan the projects revenues, expenditures, surpluses Sets goals and reviews these goals periodically

ReCycle North What Works Strategic Planning/Goal Setting New Initiative: Building Materials Center and Deconstruction Service Discontinued Program: Electronics Training Program

ReCycle North What Works Sharing Its Expertise Regional and national conferences Active in Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility

ReCycle North What Works Partnerships FAHC – used computers Sears – used appliances UVM/City of Burlington – annual Exchange VT DET / VT Corrections – training VT social service agencies – poverty relief

ReCycle North What Works Setting Guidelines Reuse and recycling guidelines Criteria and application procedures for training

ReCycle North What Works Donors Household Goods / Appliances Monetary Gifts Volunteer Hours

ReCycle North What Hasn’t Worked Developing Educational Materials About Recycling for VT Teachers Costly to produce (time and dollars) National providers do it better Realized this isn’t what RCN needs to do

ReCycle North What can you do? Donate reusable items Make a monetary donation Volunteer your time 226 Pine Street, Burlington