SARASOTA/BRADENTON, FL – On November 15, Goodwill Manasota will be proud, once again, to take part in America Recycles Day. Each year on this day, millions of people across the U.S. take part in an observance that was begun to encourage people to reduce their waste, recycle more, and buy more products made with recycled content.
The benefits of recycling are tremendous: it cuts down the amount of waste sent to landfills, reduces pollution, conserves natural resources, saves energy and money, and reduces greenhouse gasses. Unfortunately, while the EPA estimates that 75 percent of the American waste stream is recyclable, we only recycle about 30 percent of it.
Locally, Goodwill Manasota is proud to be a leader of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” movement all year long. The organization subsidizes its mission of changing lives through the power of work through the sale of unwanted goods donated by community members. In 2016, Goodwill diverted more than 40 million pounds of unwanted goods – including textiles, computers and components, books, glass, furniture, electrical items, plastic and metal – from area landfills.
“What makes America Recycles Day special for Goodwill is not just that we are helping to protect the environment, we are also supporting the Goodwill mission of changing lives through the power of work,” said Bob Rosinsky, president and CEO of Goodwill Manasota. “Every item that is donated to Goodwill generates revenue to fund job training programs and services in our local community.”
Goodwill encourages people to reduce their clutter by donating gently used items to Goodwill, to reuse items donated by others by shopping at Goodwill (which also saves money over buying things new), and recycling items rather than simply throwing them away. For more about Goodwill, go to experiencegoodwill.org or call (941) 355-2721.
About Goodwill Manasota
Goodwill Manasota is an industry-leading, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that changes lives through the power of work. With the sales of donated goods and philanthropic donations, Goodwill is able to assist people with disabilities and other barriers to employment by providing job skills training and employment opportunities. In 2016, Goodwill Manasota served 28,207 people, placed 755 people in jobs and assisted 240 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce. Goodwill Manasota’s economic impact back to the community is worth $92.1 million. Goodwill is one of the pioneers of the reduce-reuse-recycle movement and this past year diverted more than 40 million pounds out of the landfill. We accomplish our mission through a network of Good Neighbor Centers in Sarasota, Manatee, Hardee and DeSoto counties and our Mission Development Services (MDS) around North America. Goodwill Manasota is accountable to a local Board of Directors. Goodwill Manasota, in essence, belongs to this community and is not owned by any individual or company. For more information, visit www.experiencegoodwill.org.