BRADENTON, FL – Goodwill Manasota, a leader of the “reduce, reuse, recycle” movement,” has continued its commitment to move toward zero waste. In 2017, thanks to its donated goods retail operation, numerous salvage partnerships, and recycling efforts, Goodwill Manasota helped to divert more than 41.2 million pounds from area landfills. This is more than a million pounds over its 2016 total of 40 million.
The majority of items Goodwill keeps out of the trash results from goods donated from the community – clothing, furniture, books, artwork, electronics, housewares, and more – that are sold in its retail stores. The nonprofit also partners with numerous area companies, including Junk King Sarasota, Electronic Recycling Center, Greencycle, Rolloff Express, Symphony Salvage, Thrift Books, and various clothing and electronics stores, thrift shops and bookstores for salvage, recycling and resale purposes.
Goodwill sells materials that cannot be moved through its retail operations on the secondary market. Of the 41.2 million pounds diverted from landfills in 2017, roughly a quarter – 10,583,380 pounds – was through the salvage process.
In addition to donating more than 100,000 pounds of goods that Goodwill can sell in its retail stores, corporate partner Junk King has also provided invaluable assistance to Goodwill’s White Glove Service – which helps people who need a home emptied due to moving, downsizing, or a loss in the family – by removing items Goodwill deems unsaleable. Michele Postell, the general manager of Junk King, noted that her company is able to send approximately 60 percent of materials collected in this manner to be reused or recycled in some way.
These efforts not only keep millions of pounds of junk out of landfills, they also generate additional revenue for all involved.
“One of the most effective ways to increase your impact is through partnerships with local, like-minded companies,” said Bob Rosinsky, Goodwill Manasota’s president and CEO. “Our salvage partnerships have been forged in order to enhance our positive environmental impact; we are proud to work with organizations that have the same desire to operate in a more environmentally-friendly manner. The environmental and financial impacts serve to strengthen our respective organizations as well as our community.”
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 2017, Goodwill Manasota served 11,672 people, placed 555 people in jobs, assisted 360 veterans as they reintegrated back into the civilian workforce, and provided 19,540 hours of on-the-clock training for its employees. 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 41 million pounds out of the landfill. 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.