Documented success: the document destruction activities of nonprofit entities can also be part of the recycling landscape.

Professional recycling has become essential for most companies in North America that are relying on recycling centers to dispose of everything from computers to confidential documents.

As several new legal requirements at the state and national level have been placed upon companies, recycling has hit the corporate world with a legal mandate. This is a milestone for those dedicated to reusing resources.

Many companies are turning to professional recycling services that are committed not only to the environment, but to the community. It is each company's choice to find a recycling service that is environmentally friendly. Additionally, legal requirements are making document destruction a necessity.

A great example of recycling with a social conscience is the program offered by Goodwill of Orange County, Calif. Goodwill uses revenue from its business operations to fund employment training programs for people with disabilities and other barriers to independence.

MEETING THE NEEDS

"Everyone has recycling needs," says Dan Rogers, president and CEO of Goodwill of Orange County. "By working with a nonprofit to fulfill these needs, companies can give back to their community in more than one way."

Goodwill of Orange County's recycling program includes the destruction of documents and the recycling of cardboard, metals, computers and textiles.

Goodwill's document destruction division includes clients such as Eastwood Insurance, management consultants SM&A, medical management consultants Canfield & Associates, apparel maker Quiksilver and the law firm of Rutan & Tucker. Not only do these firms enjoy professional document destruction services, but they also enjoy knowing they are helping to put adults with disabilities to work.

Judi Partridge, president and CEO of Eastwood Insurance Services, states, "Goodwill seamlessly took over our document destruction responsibilities and became the perfect fit for our company."

Rich Boden, business manager at Rutan & Tucker adds, "Goodwill has delivered consistently excellent performance to our firm at a very competitive cost, while being environmentally minded."

We are environmentally conscious. In addition to giving top quality service to our clients, nearly everything is recycled. Our goal is to keep products out of our already overflowing landfills.

THE RECYCLING PROCESS

Goodwill of Orange County, in association with our recycling partners in Orange County, reuses and recycles nearly every material. Each month, product material is distributed to the respective recycling centers where it is categorized and then recycled for reuse.

Every month, we send more than 700,000 pounds of textiles to a recycler. They are then sorted, and the good quality, light-weight clothing is sent to Brazil, Africa and other countries. The poor quality cotton goods are turned into rags and sold to various manufacturers for reuse.

We receive more than 40 tons of cardboard per month. The cardboard is baled and sent to a recycling company where it is recycled into new paper and cardboard; the soiled cardboard is used for fuel.

Our commitment to the environment is exemplified by the more than 100,000 tons per month of metal that is sent to a recycler. The recycling company shreds, shears, torches or bales metal to the specifications of scrap-consuming metals producers.

The destruction of computers and electronics is consistently growing with ever-changing technology. As a California State Certified E-waste Collector, our company now receives from 22 to 24 tons of electronics and computer components and more than 80 tons of monitors per month, and the number is rapidly growing.

Computers are sold to a state-approved recycling company that specializes in computer recycling. The product is first sorted here by like categories.

On the document destruction side, in 2006 we have shredded more than 1 million pounds of paper through August and anticipate reaching 2 million by the end of the year. The shredded paper is then sold to a paper company. It is turned into pulp and made into new paper. With 45 percent of all paper in North America being recycled, this is a promising trend.

Other items that are sent through a recycling process each month include about 800 mattresses and 10 tons of books.

Goodwill is not just a place of business; it is a community operation that puts the environment and people above all.

RELATED ARTICLE: Spreading Goodwill.

Regional Goodwill offices throughout the United States have entered the recycling industry on their own or, in some cases, have partnered with private corporations to become involved in the collection and processing of recyclables.

Goodwill Industries of San Diego is working with computer maker Dell Inc. to operate Reconnect San Diego, a drop-off program for the recycling of unwanted computers.

A pilot program started this year has a goat of acquiring 2 million pounds of obsolete electronics gathered at the various thrift store locations of Goodwill of San Diego. Goodwill employees, including individuals with disabilities and other employment barriers, will sort the equipment for remarketing by Dell's Asset Recovery Services program.

Reconnect programs between Goodwill and Dell with similar goals have been started by Dell and several other Goodwill offices including those in Austin, Texas; Pittsburgh; San Antonio; San Francisco and in Michigan.

Goodwill is not the only nonprofit entity involved on the electronics side. In Nebraska, WasteCap Nebraska and the Norfolk, Neb., location of steelmaker Nucor Corp. have teamed up to host obsolete electronics collection events.

At one event, held in May in NorfoLk, more than 30,000 pounds of obsolete electronics was collected.

The electronics were processed by CP Recovery, an Omaha-based electronics recycling company.

Anne Martin is vice president of operations and sales at Goodwill of Orange County and can be reached at [e-mail].