Day 30: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Three companies working together.  Their goal: to reduce waste and support youth development programs.  It's a great example of "See a need, fill a need," and Rodney Watkins had the eyes to see an opportunity.

He works for CleanScapes, as a garbage-hauler for the waste management service.  Over and over he saw decent bikes being tossed away, that in turn could be refurbished and given to someone.  "From that grew CleanScapes' bicycle-recycling program, which at a Tuesday ceremony delivered the 400th bike to Bike Works, a nonprofit program that repairs bikes and provides them to disadvantaged youth.  Money the program earns also goes to support youth programs...CleanScapes worked with Seattle Public Utilities to put containers with bicycles painted on them at the city's North and South Transfer Stations...Used bikes go into the containers, then to Bike Works.  Those that can't be saved are sold for scrap metal, which helps fund the recycling program." Seattle Times

Bike Works has now managed to refurbish 2,000 bikes, keeping them out of the landfill, and in turn giving them to youth, selling to the public, or donating to villages in Ghana and El Salvador.  But Bike Works isn't just a freebie program.  They offer classes on bicycle repair and mechanics, discuss environmental stewardship, provide mentoring opportunities, and expose these kids to the joy of the outdoors all while on bike.  The Earn-a-Bike program requires the kids to take an 8-week class and donate 18 hours of community service before they can choose a bike to restore and then own.  Generating a sense of pride and ownership, and instilling confidence along the way.

I love these kinds of stories, because they seem so simple.  Rodney Watkins saw a valuable resource that could easily be salvaged, and in collaboration with two other companies, was able to connect the resources with those who could best use it.  So simple.  So brilliant.  Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Twitter Updates – Follow Good News for Isla on Twitter.
RSS Subscription – Subscribe to Good News for Isla via RSS in a reader.
Email Updates – Sign up for email updates.