United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA530-N
August 19
&EPA WasteWiSe Update
DONATION PROG
TURNING TRA
INTO TREASUI
fASTE
f
at least 20 percent po
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WasteWiSe Update
DONATION PROGRAM
Turing Trash Into T
ne man's trash is another man's trea-
sure. Just ask the WasteWiSe partners
and the donation recipients featured in
this issue of WasteWiSe Update.
Everyone wins when corporations donate surplus equip-
ment, supplies, and materials to nonprofit organizations in
need. These donations fill a massive void in the nonprofit
community and can make the difference between the survival
and elimination of services desperately needed by communi-
ties across the country. The donating companies benefit by
knowing they are "doing the right thing." In addition, they
may reap rewards through tax breaks, avoided storage and dis-
posal costs, and improved community relations. Moreover,
the environment also wins. Donation is an important waste
prevention strategy, since it reduces the need for the purchase
and manufacture of new products and helps keep materials
out of landfills.
Corporations have donated several billion dollars in
equipment and supplies over the past 2 decades. The
National Association for the Exchange of Industrial
Resources (NAEIR) has provided over $950 million worth
of corporate inventory to America's schools and nonprofit
organizations since 1977. Similarly, in the past decade, near-
ly $ 1 billion in newly manufactured products have been
donated through Gifts In Kind International. Education
Assistance Ltd. (EAL), which has been donating materials to
universities in coordination with tuition scholarships since
1982, awarded more than $3 million in tuition scholarships.
These results are just a sampling of what American compa-
nies can achieve when donation becomes part of their cor-
porate culture.
This issue of WasteWi$e Update highlights several dona-
tion strategies implemented by WasteWi$e partners. Many
partners keep donations in the community by using local
organizations. For example, the University of South Florida
gives excess prepared food to a local chapter of the Salvation
Army, a national nonprofit organization. Abbott
Laboratories, Millipore Corporation, and Raytheon E-
Systems donate materials to local charities and schools.
Other partners, such as Baxter International and Thomas
Jefferson University Hospital, take a more global outlook
and donate materials to national nonprofits that redistribute
the materials to those in need around the world.
Other donation strategies include developing a relation-
ship with local handi-
capped organizations to
process items for reuse and
recycling, contacting a
materials exchange to iden-
tify prospective recipients,
and contributing materials
to state or local govern-
ment agencies for special
projects. Florida Power
Corporation, for example,
donates used concrete utili-
ty poles to an artificial bar-
rier reef project sponsored
by a local government
agency. Apart from dona-
tion, companies might also
consider employee give-
aways, sale of surplus mate-
rials, and internal materials exchanges. These actions reduce
waste, help your company's bottom line, and boost employ-
ee morale.
Donation is an
important waste
prevention strate-
gy, since it elimi-
nates the need for
the purchase and
manufacture of
new products and
helps keep materi-
als out of landfills.
c o
Medical Supplies: Saving Money & Lives.
Artificial Reefs Are "Growing" in
U.S. Lakes and Oceans ,,,,,, ,,,,,,
Fighting Hunger Through Food Donations.
Old Building Materials Erect New Life .
Educating Others Through
Corporate Donations
The mention of any company, product, or process in this publication does not constitute or imply endorsement by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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WasteWi$e Update
WasteWi$e partners have
implemented success-
ful donation pro-
grams for
everything from rail-
road ties to polystyrene peanuts. The
following is a sampling of what other
partners are donating:
• Bell Atlantic donated $700,000
worth of unneeded office furniture to
schools, charity organizations, and
nonprofits, such as battered women's
shelters.
• The Capital Area Corporate
Recycling Center (CACRC) worked
with the Louisiana Department of
Transportation to find new uses for
materials that had been going to land-
fills. As a result of CACRC assistance,
local schools received leftover vinyl
highway sign lettering material and
plastic tubes to use in art projects. The
Greater Baton Rouge Zoo received
plastic sheeting to cover animals' out-
door cages during the winter.
• Clorox conserved 134,000 pounds of
materials in 1996 by implementing
an inventory tracking program in its
research and development center and
giving away products left over from
pilot testing runs to nonprofit groups
or employees. That same year, Clorox
also donated $250,000 worth of labo-
ratory equipment and office furniture
to schools and universities.
• Dow Corning donated railroad ties
and plastic drums to fairs for grounds
improvements and waste collection.
The company also gave all of its card-
board, newsprint, plastics, and glass to
a local nonprofit recycling center. The
Even Unusual Materials Can
Find a Home
Donation organizations can
excess merchandise. In fact,
may not think to donate are
* Access doors
* Antiseptic hand soap
* Bird feeders
* CD/ROM drives
* Drafting supplies
* Garage doors
* Heat pumps
* Lab equipment
* Metal cookware
* Mop bucket and
wringer combinations
find a use for almost any
materials that companies
often needed, such as:
* Nails and hinges
* Plumbing and bath
supplies
* Plumbing supplies
* Screen doors
* Screwdrivers
* Vacuums
* Vending machines
* Welding supplies
* Yardsticks
revenues generated help keep the recycling center in
business. Dow Corning also donated furniture, sup-
plies, and equipment to other local nonprofits.
• Gillette conserved 12,500 pounds of materials by
donating corrugated packaging and promotional mate-
rials to the Boston Schools Recycle Center. The center
provided free instructional materials and training to
teachers to encourage them to develop experimental
approaches for teaching reading, writing, math, and
science. The company also gave more than 1,500
pieces of office furniture and equipment to local
charitable and educational organizations.
• NEC Electronics donated more than 29,000
pounds of packaging materials to nonprofit organi-
zations and packaging stores.
• Pennsylvania Power and Light (PP&L) reused or
donated 1,852,000 pounds of utility poles in 1995.
PP&L encouraged employees to find ways to reuse,
donate, or recycle the poles and tracks the number of
poles given away. Poles can be used to build gates,
fences, or barriers, as well as for landscaping.
• Rivertown Trading Company donated poly-
styrene peanuts and other packaging materials, as
well as aluminum cans and recyclable containers,
to local packaging stores and nonprofits. An
advocacy organization, Minnesota Missing
Children, for example, received $1,400 in
one year by recycling aluminum cans
donated by Rivertown.
We hope these ideas, as well as the profiles presented
in this issue of the Update, will inspire your company
to take a closer look at the possibilities of donation
programs.
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WasteWi$e Update
Li
In the summer of 1994, a shipment of intra-
venous (IV) needles, gloves, surgical masks,
and nutritional supplements arrived at a
Rwandan refugee camp in Zaire. Doctors there
used these donated medical supplies to treat
refugees suffering from dehydration and gastrointesti-
nal disorders, as well as to deliver babies. Imagine if
those supplies had ended up in the bottom of a land-
fill, instead of being used to save refugees' lives.
Each year, millions of dollars worth of medical supplies
go unused by the U.S. hospitals that purchase them. The
reason: U.S. law prohibits hospitals from using supplies
once their packaging has been opened, even if the supplies
themselves have not been touched. Rather than wasting
these valuable supplies, many hospitals, including several
WasteWi$e partners, donate them to relief organizations.
These organizations then distribute the supplies to devel-
oping nations around the world. Donating medical sup-
plies enables hospitals to reduce their solid waste, avoid
disposal costs, and help people in the far reaches of the
world who are in dire need of medical relief.
Medical supply donation programs are relatively easy to
set up and inexpensive to implement. These programs usu-
ally entail working closely with a national or local relief
organization that accepts the supplies and sends them to
places where they are needed. Donated supplies include
everything from gloves, sponges, gowns, and sterile gauze,
to sutures, syringes, catheters, and IV tubing. In addition,
many relief organizations accept medical equipment, such
as operating room tables, X-ray units, kidney dialysis
machines, and wheelchairs. Hospitals store the supplies in
properly labeled boxes or containers until the relief organi-
zation collects them. Depending on the relief organization,
hospitals may be asked to sterilize the items before storing
them. Other relief organizations, however, sterilize the
products after receiving them. Most relief organizations
pay for the costs of transporting the supplies from the
donating hospital to the warehouse where they are stored
prior to shipment abroad.
A hospital's liability for donated medical supplies ends
at the point of donation, if proper steps are taken. When
relief organizations pick up the donated items, legal
paperwork can be signed indicating the items the hospital
has donated and that the relief organization is now liable
for any malfunction of the supplies when they reach their
final destination.
As the following WasteWi$e partners' experiences show,
one of the greatest benefits of donating medical supplies is
that donation doesn't just save money, it can make the dif-
ference between life and death.
R SOURCES
The following organizations accept donations of med-
ical supplies:
• AmeriCares, 800 486-HELP
• Carelift International, 610 617-0995
• RACORSE, 510 832-2868
• Northeast Medical, 800 343-9755
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WasteWi$e Update
Thomas Jefferson University and Hospital Donate Supplies
and Equipment
mployees at Thomas Jefferson University and
Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were
concerned when they saw the quantities of
medical supplies the hospital discarded. They
knew the unused supplies cost the hospital
money to dispose of—and would be priceless in regions of the
world where medical products are in high demand.
In 1994, the hospital (a WasteWi$e partner)
identified a local organization, Carelift
International, that accepts donations of unused
surgical supplies and medical equipment, such
as X-ray machines and operating room tables.
Carelift distributes the supplies and equipment
to hospitals in the former Soviet Union, Africa,
and the Far East. Carelift is notified when sup-
plies are ready to be collected, then Carelift pays
to transport the supplies to its distribution cen-
ter. When a full X-ray room and dental clinic
were no longer needed at the university and
hospital, due to downsizing, this equipment was
donated to Carelift as well. The total donations
in the past 3 years have been worth more than
half a million dollars and have saved the costs of
storing or disposing of the products.
According to Bill Wardle, assistant vice president for mate-
rials management, the greatest benefit of the program has
been giving new life to supplies that would otherwise be
unusable. "By donating these supplies, we make them usable
again, and someone benefits from our donation."
For more information about Thomas Jefferson University
and Hospital's program, contact Bill Wardle at 215 503-6244.
Baxter International Partners With AmeriCares
In 1987, WasteWi$e partner Baxter International
began working with AmeriCares, an international
relief organization that distributes medical sup-
plies worldwide. Baxter, a global medical products
and services company, had been looking for cost-
effective ways to manage its excess inventory, including
IV, renal, and biotechnology products. Excessive inventory
is expensive for Baxter to dispose of and represents a lost
investment for the company. In addition, Baxter knew
that its excess inventory could be a life saver in regions of
the world where few medical supplies are available.
After researching several relief organizations that accept
donated medical supplies, Baxter selected AmeriCares.
"AmeriCares was the best fit for us," says Patricia Morgan,
coordinator of the company's product donation efforts.
"AmeriCares is a very large organization with warehouses
all over the United States. As a result, they're able to
ensure an easy movement of product from our warehouses
to theirs." In addition, AmeriCares ensures that recipients
of the donated supplies use them properly and before
their expiration dates. Through AmeriCares, Baxter's
donated products have been distributed to four continents
and countries such as Rwanda, Croatia, Russia, and India.
In 1994 and 1995, Baxter donated a total of 1,740,000
pounds of materials worth more than $21 million.
Baxter has received numerous letters from small hospi-
tals and clinics around the world acknowledging the sup-
plies they received from Baxter and thanking them for the
donation. The rewards of the program for Baxter stem
from the satisfaction of helping others in need. "We know
that hospitals that literally had nothing, now have a clean,
workable product," says Morgan.
For more information about Baxter's program, contact
Patricia Morgan at 847 948-4604.
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WasteWi$e Update
Artificial Reefs Are "Grown
n addi ,,
and their ecosystems—can also benefit from corporate
donations. The City of Cleveland and WasteWiSe partner
Florida Power Corporation are donating materials to foster the
_te construction of artificial barrier reefs. The reefs support a marine
ecosystem, allowing a variety offish, algae, and other sea life to flourish
where they otherwise wouldn't. In particular, reefs create a habitat for popular
sport fish which, in turn, attract fisherman and support the local economy.
^^^^^^^^^^H
Sinking Costs for Florida Power Corporation
hile utility poles can remain in use for
approximately 25 to 30 years, utility compa-
nies are still faced with the disposal of a
tremendous volume of old poles each year.
Given the high costs of hauling and landfill
disposal, utility companies have a clear incentive to search for
alternative methods for managing their waste poles. Florida
Power Corporation is breaking new ground with a creative
approach to prevent its poles from entering the waste stream.
Over the years, Florida Power has found it quite costly
and inefficient to dispose of its old concrete utility poles via
landfilling. Today, Florida Power takes advantage of a unique
local reuse opportunity for its used poles. The utility donates
the poles and other concrete debris to the Pinellas County,
Florida, artificial reef program, one of the largest in the
country. Pinellas County accepts concrete, and other forms
of clean rubble, that has been diverted from the landfill to
use in the construction of artificial barrier reefs off the coast
of Florida. The artificial reefs provide new habitats for
marine life, attracting schools of tropical fish.
Jennifer Waggoner, Florida Power's corporate recycling pro-
gram manager, first learned about artificial reef programs in
1996 through an article in a nature magazine. Waggoner
quickly recognized how well such a project would fit with
Florida Power's needs and began to contact the coastal counties
in which the company has electric plants. She soon discovered
that the staging area for Pinellas County's Clearwater Reef
Program was located close to one of the company's utility pole
take-down sites. Proximity would prove to be a key factor in
determining the economic feasibility of the project.
Having found the project to be economically sound, Florida
Power initiated its donation program with Pinellas County in
July 1996. Florida Power removes the utility poles from the
take-down site, loads them directly onto its own trucks, and
transports the concrete straight to the reef staging area. From
there, Pinellas County ships the poles on barges out to the reef
sites. Through this unique, mutually-beneficial program,
Florida Power has successfully avoided the costs of transporting
and landfilling truckloads of poles, while also eliminating the
additional labor required by the previous system. The reduction
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WasteWi$e Update
in U.S.
O
in hauling and landfilling fees, combined with the increase in
efficiency, has amounted to a total savings of $9,000 in just the
first 7 months of operation. More significant, however, is the
impressive 900,000 pounds of retired poles that have already
been diverted from landfills to find new life in the Gulf of
Mexico as a result of this program. As Florida Power's efforts
continue in 1997, these numbers are steadily rising.
Due to pole-size constraints, the Pinellas Clearwater Reef
Program can not accept all of the used poles Florida Power
takes down. Nonetheless, Waggoner has not given up so easily
on finding a way to avoid landfilling the unsuitable poles. In
pursuit of a home for the "unreefable" material, Waggoner
raised the issue at a Pinellas County Business Recycling
Network meeting. The network members referred her to a
company that accepts concrete debris for conversion into roads
and pavement, the site to which Florida Power now brings all
remaining poles and debris.
Similar programs exist along coastal zones all over the
country. If concrete, brick, limestone, or another type of
clean rubble makes up a significant part of your waste
stream, you may want to contact city or county officials to
inquire whether such a program exists in your region. For
further information on getting a concrete donation program
started, contact Jennifer Waggoner of Florida Power at
813 866-5395. To find out more about Pinellas County's
artificial reef program, contact Ocean Operations Supervisor
Bob Gatland at 813 596-7302.
Cleveland Stadium Makes
Waves
ish will soon swim through Cleveland's old foot-
ball stadium. The city of Cleveland, Ohio, with
the guidance of Ohio State University's Sea Grant
Extension Program, is converting its old football
stadium into an artificial barrier reef.
Along with the plans for construction of Cleveland's new
football stadium inevitably comes the need to demolish the
old stadium. With the stadium's demolition, hundreds of
thousands of tons of concrete rubble will require disposal.
David Kelch, district specialist for Ohio State University's
Ohio Sea Grant Program, envisioned the lakefront demoli-
tion site not as a pile of rubble, but rather as "a perfect
opportunity to utilize a tremendous amount of material."
The environmental benefits and economic incentives for
adding the stadium rubble to the reef project include:
• Reducing the need to purchase or manufacture materials
for a new reef.
• Greatly relieving hauling costs due to the stadium's lake-
side location, conveniently adjacent to the reef staging site,
and eliminating landfill disposal costs for the city.
• Creating a habitat for the lake's most popular sport fish:
yellow perch, walleye, and smallmouth bass.
• Attracting anglers from outside the area, indirectly boost-
ing profits in the reef communities.
• Creating safe, accessible recreational areas for fishing and
SCUBA diving.
When plans for the new stadium were made public in
February 1996, Kelch immediately approached the city of
Cleveland with a proposal that they donate all usable con-
crete for the construction of an artificial reef in Lake Erie.
When completed, the site will be the largest freshwater,
underwater artificial reef in the world!
According to Kelch, the North Central Ohio Sea Grant
Committee has been constructing artificial reefs in Lake Erie
since the early 1980s. Two demonstration projects, located off
the shores of the cities of Lorain and Cleveland, have shown
that properly planned and constructed reefs can be highly suc-
cessful. Biological research conducted on the reef sites during
the early to mid-1990s
indicated those reefs fos- A * 1 D i T?
tered a concentration of AniHialS K6SI tdSy
fish 25 times greater than With Florida POW6r
found in nonreef areas. Don3.tlOIlS
Further, the economic
value of the Lorain reef was Florida Power donations
estimated to be $275,000 suPPort other ™al life'
as well as fish. Bengal
annually, more than twice T. ,
I igers, for example, at the
the construction costs. The Wj|d|jfe Rescue
stadium reef project is slat- Rehabilitation Center
ed to be much larger than lounge on worn rubber
the existing reefs, ensuring blankets donated by Florida
even greater benefits to the Power. The utility also
community. donates used rubber gloves
to the Mote Marine
To find out more about Laboratory, the Florida
artificial reef projects, con- Aquarium, and the
tact David Kelch of the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary
Ohio Sea Grant College for use in handling fish and
Extension Program at 216 birds.
322-0127.
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WasteWi$e Update
p to 20 percent of the food produced in this
country goes to waste. The annual value of
this wasted food is estimated at $31 bil-
lion—enough to feed roughly 49 million
people.
Where does all of this wasted food end up? In the
dumpster. The uneaten food from your company's cafeteria
can, however, go toward feeding a hungry child or senior
with the Meal-on-Wheels program. More and more compa-
nies are partnering with food programs, shelters, and
human service agencies to put this wholesome food where
it belongs — in the mouths of needy people. Two
WasteWi$e partners, Boeing North American, Inc. and
the New College/University of South
Florida at Sarasota, are donating the
leftover food from their cafeterias to feed
needy people in their communities.
Both partners started donating their
food through very different means. Ken
Jones, lead engineer with Boeing, said that
about 10 years ago, staff at the facility
decided that donating food was a socially
conscious way of getting rid of the excess
food. To locate an organization that would
accept leftover food, Boeing first contact-
ed a local food bank— LA Shares. The
food bank then put Boeing in touch with
a local shelter who could use the food.
Alternately, Anne Tazewell, resource con-
servation coordinator with New College,
explains that in November 1996, the uni-
versity was trying to implement a food
scraps composting program. For several
days, Tazewell monitored the cafeteria to
research what was being thrown away. "I
was amazed to see how much perfectly good food we threw
away each day. In addition to establishing a composting pro-
gram, I contacted the Salvation Army about donating the
food to them."
And the rest is history. Now, the Salvation Army food ser-
vice director comes to the college cafeteria every afternoon
and picks up about 10 gallons of prepared food, which will
feed approximately 100 people. The cafeteria staff also have
noticed a small reduction in their workload. Tazewell
explained, "Each day, the Salvation Army brings our contain-
A network of prepared and
perishable food rescue pro-
grams. Provides listings of
local organizations that
accept donations and dis-
tributes them to those in
need: 800 845-3008
Operates a national network
of local food banks that dis-
tribute nonperishable foods:
800 532-FOOD
ers back washed and ready for staff to use again." For the
past 4 years, Boeing has donated $20 to $100 worth of less
perishable foods, such as bakery goods, milk, fruit, and mis-
taken deliveries, each week to the Affirmative Action shelter
in Long Beach, California. Sam Vance, food manager with
Aramark, a food service contractor and also a WasteWi$e
partner, has been overseeing the program for Boeing for the
last 3 years. "The program is part of our daily routine. We
have a certain place we put the food during the week, and,
on Friday afternoons, shelter staff come by and pick up the
food."
This type of program often can be established just by talk-
ing with food service management. "Food service people see
the waste everyday, and, as long as the
program is easy to follow, most employees
have been more than eager to help,"
Tazewell explained.
Both partners would like to expand
their program. Tazewell would like to see
the entire University of South Florida sys-
tem donate their leftover food. Vance is
also interested in expanding his program
and is currently looking into donating
their prepared food as well.
"Overall, this program gives us the feel-
ing that we are doing the right thing."
Tazewell states, "Feeding people instead of
throwing away perfectly good food is per-
sonally satisfying."
Every state has a food donation or
"Good Samaritan Law." In October
1996, President Clinton signed The Bill
Emerson Good Samaritan Food
Donation Act, a federal law that pro-
motes food recovery. This legislation limits the liability of
donors to instances of gross negligence and intentional mis-
conduct, and establishes nationwide uniform definitions
pertaining to donation and distribution of nutritious foods.
For more information on New College's food donation
program contact Anne Tazewell, resource conservation coor-
dinator, at 941 359-5753. Sam Vance, food manager with
Aramark, can be reached at 310 797-2530. To obtain a
WasteWi$e tipsheet, Donating Leftover Food to the Needy,
please call the Helpline at 800 EPA-WISE.
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WasteWi$e Update
Old BUIcing
Looking for a way to get rid of your used or surplus
building materials? Many WasteWi$e partners
have found donating used building and construc-
tion materials to be a cost effective and environ-
ment friendly alternative to landfilling. According
to John Lamberton of the Loading Dock—a Baltimore,
Maryland-based nonprofit organization that channels
reusable building material donations to needy organiza-
tions—the 400 manufacturers, distributors, and contractors
that donated to the organization in 1995 saved $500,000 in
disposal fees (based on a $67.50 per ton), received an esti-
mated $220,000 in tax breaks, and prevented 7,500 tons of
construction waste from entering landfills.
WasteWi$e partner Texaco Bakersfield Region knows
the benefits of donating building materials firsthand. Since
1994, the company has donated over 4,000 tons of materials
from its office remodeling project to local nonprofit agen-
cies. Materials, such as ceiling tiles, mini blinds, fluorescent
light fixtures, used cabinets and sinks, curtains, and carpet
that once would have ended up in the company's waste
stream, now are put back to good use.
"Texaco's donation program has been a real success for
both the company and the nonprofit community of
Bakersfield," explains Jay Williams, waste management and
minority business coordinator at Texaco. In addition to pro-
viding local nonprofit organizations with much needed
materials, the donation program has helped Texaco save over
$100,000 in avoided disposal fees and earn tax deductions
on the materials donated.
In order to address liability concerns, Texaco requires
organizations accepting donated materials to sign an agree-
ment of transfer of property with terms and conditions.
Materials donated by Texaco are done on an "as is, no return
basis." According to Williams, none of the organizations
benefiting from Texaco's donation program have any trouble
with this policy.
Williams suggests that companies interested in starting a
donation program begin by calling their local United Way
office to learn about organizations that need their support.
He also recommends that companies consider donating
materials to groups such as the Boy and Girl Scouts, Senior
Centers, and Youth Clubs that can often use the materials in
fundraising events.
Another WasteWi$e partner that can provide some good
advice on donating old building materials is The Walt Disney
World Company in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Since 1993,
The Walt Disney World Resort has been actively involved in a
program with the Orange County Community Distribution
Center to donate excess construction and demolition debris to
local nonprofit groups. Last year alone, The Walt Disney
World Resort saved more than $26,000 in avoided disposal
fees by donating 1.1 million pounds of materials such as paint,
floor coverings, lumber, piping, and light fixtures.
According to Bryan Christiansen of Walt Disney World
Company's Environmental Initiatives Department, "Disney's
decision to initiate its building material donation program
was two-fold: one, the cost savings through avoided disposal
fees, and two, the benefit to community nonprofit agencies
and accompanying community relations exposure." When
asked whether tax benefits were also a factor in Disney's deci-
sion to donate, Christiansen noted that the company is ineli-
gible to receive a tax deduction for the donated materials,
since most of the items are already covered in the deprecia-
tion of capital items.
For more information about Texaco's program, contact Jay
Williams at 805 392-2200. Contact Bryan Christiansen of
Walt Disney World at 407 824-7294 or via e-mail at
(bryan_christiansen@ wda.disney.com).
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WasteWi$e Update
10
Donating discards not only reduces
waste and cuts costs, it also provides
valuable education tools to students
of all ages. The donations of
WasteWi$e partners Millipore
Corporation and Raytheon E-Systems have helped
children looking for project materials and adults
looking to learn a new vocation. Millipore's dona-
tions of scrap materials and discarded plastic mold-
ings encourage both imagination and creativity in
the students who make arts and science projects
from them. Meanwhile, Raytheon E-Systems' dona-
tion of scrap aluminum provides a much needed
medium for students to practice their technical
welding skills. Both companies agree that, while
donation has significant environmental benefits
and saves them money, they do it to promote
strong corporate citizenship and good will.
Scraps From Raytheon E-Systems
Help Keep a Local Vocational
School in Business
Observant and active employees are often the key to
finding new homes for unwanted materials. Paul
Boucher, an employee with WasteWi$e partner
Raytheon E-Systems in Saint Petersburg, Florida,
helped the company establish a unique scrap dona-
tion program. Raytheon's Saint Petersburg facility manufactures
electronic equipment. Boucher, an employee in the company's
machine shop, also teaches welding at the Pinellas Technical
Education Center (PTEC), a local vocational school. PTEC's
welding program has a limited budget and, therefore, is unable
to purchase many needed welding materials, such as alu-
minum. Recognizing the school's need and observing the alu-
minum scraps produced at Raytheon, Boucher initiated the
company's donation program with PTEC.
Rather than going to a recycler, 1,600 pounds of the compa-
ny's sheet and block aluminum scraps (approximately 10 per-
cent of the total aluminum scrap generated), valued at $650,
now go to PTEC each year. Every piece of the donated alu-
minum is used in the classroom—nothing goes to waste.
Since Raytheon is PTEC's only aluminum donator, this
material is essential to the success of the welding program.
As described by Craig Pethe, a Raytheon environmental
engineer, "From the company's perspective, our donation
program helps create an outstanding welding program,
which produces well-trained graduates who could someday
be Raytheon employees."
In 1996, Raytheon received the 1995 Pinellas County
Recycling Award, in the large business category. This award
recognized the company's efforts in donating and recycling
numerous materials, including aluminum scrap. For more
information on Raytheon's Saint Petersburg donation pro-
gram, contact Craig Pethe at 813 381-2000.
R SOURCES
Local school districts are an excellent place to
start when looking for a donation recipient.
In addition, the following organizations
accept donations for art, cultural, and educa-
tional programs:
Educational Assistance^ Ltd, makes
available commercial, industrial, and retail equipment
to more than 130 colleges and universities.
Contact: Claudia Mancini
Phone: 630690-0010
Material for the Arts, is a program of the
city of New York, Department of Cultural Affairs, in
partnership with the Department of Sanitation. This
municipally operated donation program distributes
items to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations
and programs in New York City.
Contact: Susan Glass
Phone: 212 255-5924
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11
WasteWi$e Update
Steps for setting up a donation pro-
gram might include:
The raw materials from Millipore (insert) and the final
product (above).
Millipore Supplies Young Artists
Toy eyeglasses, floating gardens, and a 'Millipore
Chia Pet'— these are just a few of the projects
created by students using materials donated to the
Children's Resource Center by WasteWi$e partner
Millipore Corporation, which manufactures filters
for the high technology industry. The Children's Resource
Center, located in Belmont, Massachusetts, accepts a variety
of materials from Millipore for use in children's art and sci-
ence projects, including rejected plastic moldings, netting,
and almost anything conceivable that is clean and safe for
children's use. The center then sells the materials at a mini-
mal cost (usually items go for just pennies!) to local teachers
and parents, so the kids can have creative materials to make
science, art, and other educational projects. Last year,
Millipore donated approximately 15 cubic yards (a full
truckload!) of plastics and other miscellaneous materials to
the center. Beverly Wilkins, an environmental technician for
Millipore, notes, however, "We usually send samples of
materials before sending a whole truckload, just to make
sure the material is acceptable and useful."
Students occasionally send samples of their finished prod-
ucts back to the company, in thanks. Millipore has created a
display of these items for all employees to enjoy. Not only
do the kids have a fun time making the toys, but Millipore
employees get a kick out of seeing creative uses for their sci-
entific parts. "It's important to remain open-minded about
materials—something that looks like junk, or is useless to
the company, may be very useful in encouraging creativity
and imagination in children," says Steve Dark, an environ-
mental engineer at Millipore.
For more information on Millipore's donation program,
contact Steve Dark or Beverly Wilkins at 603 532-8711.
Assess materials available for
ticn Companies can begin by reviewing the con-
tents of their storage areas and examining materials
routinely thrown away. These materials might
include overstocked items; surplus finished prod-
ucts, such as promotional items; or items whose
packaging has changed.
Reuiewliability issues. To guard against
future lawsuits, companies should review potential
liabilities prior to donation.
Locate and contact, a user cr distribu-
ter for the donated materials. Options
include local chapters of national nonprofit organi-
zations (Salvation Army and Goodwill), national
nonprofit organizations that match materials avail-
able to materials needed (Gifts In-Kind, The Trade
Bank, and NAEIR), materials exchanges, and local
nonprofit organizations or educational institutions.
Gonfirnrnnith the user cr distributer
ttiat materials cu"c acceptable and
llOCClocL Often nonprofit organizations are seen as
the dumping ground for unusable or obsolete items.
While companies are doing the right thing by trying
to find a reuse avenue for the materials, providing a
nonprofit organization with materials they can not
use actually increases their burden. The distributor or
user must then locate someone who can reuse the
materials or pay for their disposal. Companies are
encouraged to call ahead and check before sending
any materials. Also, you may want to confirm how
transportation charges are distributed.
Track materials donated. Tracking the
weight, volume, and value of materials generated
will help you calculate potential tax deductions, cost
savings through avoided disposal costs, and total
amount of materials diverted from landfills. Many
nonprofit organizations will provide such measure-
ments for tax purposes. Companies are encouraged
to ask about any paperwork involved beforehand to
avoid any unnecessary hassles.
Publicize results. Companies can use tracking
information to report waste reduction and cost sav-
ings to WasteWi$e, as well as employees, customers,
and shareholders. Companies often benefit from
improved community relations as a result of dona-
tion programs.
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WasteWi$e Update
12
Abbott Labs Say YES to
the Local Community
As a technology driven company, WasteWi$e
partner Abbott Laboratories needs to stay on the
cutting edge. As a result, Abbott continually
upgrades equipment to improve productivity.
While some of this equipment no longer has
value to Abbott, it is often very useful for
schools and charitable organizations in the
Chicago and southeastern Wisconsin areas. The
company maintains a waiting list of requests for its old
equipment, such as computers, office furniture, lab
equipment, and vehicles. When equipment becomes
available, Abbott donates it to an organization that can
use it. The company donates approximately $250,000
worth of equipment each year to several nonprofit
organizations.
Jim Greiner, manager of recycling says Abbott likes to
donate to local organizations. "Donating to local organi-
zations allows the company to reinvest in the communi-
ties in which our employees live and enhance the
corporation's public image."
For more information, contact Jim Greiner, manager
of recycling at Abbott Laboratories, at 847 937-8090.
Like to
Ycxl
If you are not yet a WasteWi$e partner and would like to join, please
let us know. State and local government agencies are now welcome to
join the WasteVW$e program. Contact us at 800 EPA-WISE for more
information.
x>EPA
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
(5306W)
401 M Street, SW.
Washington, DC 20460
Official Business
Penalty for Private Use
$300
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Donation&Reuse
Resource Listii
Publications on
Donation and Reuse
M
I any partners have
worked successfully with local
reuse organizations to donate
surplus supplies and equip-
ment for reuse. Local organiza-
tions are often easily
accessible, which can simplify
the logistics associated with
donating items. Further, con-
tributing locally can boost
employee morale and provide
a positive source of recogni-
tion in the community. Check
your yellow pages or the publi-
cations listed below to identify
local reuse organizations and
donation opportunities.
General
T
Electronics Reuse and Recycling
Directory. U.S. EPA. This directory
provides numerous practical options
for reusing and recycling consumer
electronics including computers, tele-
visions, video cameras, and more.
The listing, organized by state, details
manufacturers with take-back pro-
grams, scrap dealers, electronics refur-
bishers, charitable organizations, and
materials exchanges for electronic
products. This document is available
on the Internet via EPA's Public
Access Server at (http://www.epa.gov/
epaoswer/non-hw/index.htm#
reduce). To order an original copy,
call the WasteWi$e Helpline at 800
EPA-WISE (372-9473).
Waste Wi$e Materials Exchanges.
EPA WasteWi$e Program. This list
ing presents materials exchanges orga-
nized by EPA Region and includes
contact information, services provid-
ed, and materials available for
exchange. To obtain a copy, call the
WasteWi$e Helpline at 800 EPA-
WISE (372-9472).
Choose to Reuse. Nikki and David
Goldbeck. This book provides an
alphabetical directory containing
more than 2,000 products, services,
and organizations that facilitate the
reuse of goods or offer durable alter-
natives to disposables. Organized by
product type, subheadings classify
opportunities for maintenance, repair,
rental, remanufacture, purchase or
sale of used products, secondary
reuse, and donation. Case studies
throughout the directory highlight
organizations that have successfully
implemented reuse initiatives. To
order, contact Ceres Press at P.O. Box
87, Dept. CTRB, Woodstock, NY
12498. Phone/Fax: 914 679-5573.
Institute for Local Self
Reliance
The following four publications can
be ordered from the Institute for
Local Self-Reliance, 2425 18th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20009-2096.
Phone: 202 232-4108.
Fax: 202 332-0463.
(ilsr@igc.apc.org).
(http://www.ilsr.org).
Creating Wealth from Everyday
Items. Institute for Local Self-
Reliance. This report profiles seven
household collection programs and six
model reuse operations that handle
reusable goods. By providing data on
working models and tips for replica-
tion, this report will help recycling
professionals, economic development
planners, and community-based orga-
nizations to contain waste handling
costs, meet waste reduction goals, and
link recycling with local economic
development. Contact information is
provided for the 13 featured programs.
Plug into Electronics Reuse.
Institute for Local Self-Reliance.
This report provides contact informa-
tion for more than 150 operations
that repair or recycle computers.
Thirteen facilities that focus on com-
puter reuse are profiled in depth.
Sustaining Businesses &Jobs
through Pallet Reuse and Repair.
Institute for Local Self- Reliance.
This report documents job opportuni-
ties in the pallet repair and reuse
industry and provides data on 31 pal-
let reuse businesses interested in
expanding. Profiles of five enterprises
detail the logistical specifics of the pal-
let repair industry. Appendix lists 193
pallet repair and recycling facilities.
Weaving Textile Reuse into Waste
Reduction. Institute for Local Self-
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Donation and Reuse Resource Listing
Reliance. By documenting 10 pro-
grams that collect discarded textiles,
this report lays out how communities
can integrate textile recycling into
their existing textile infrastructure.
Tips for setting up similar textile
recycling programs, such as keeping
textiles dry and partnering with local
charities and nonprofit organizations,
are highlighted. An appendix lists
companies around the country that
accept nonindustrial textiles locally.
Waste Wi$e maintains a listing of
additional reuse organizations, orga-
nized by EPA Region. For more infor-
mation on local reuse organizations, or
to let us know about a reuse organiza-
tion your company has been involved
with, please call the Waste Wi$e
Helpline at 800 372-9473.
National Donation
and Reuse
Organizations
s.
"ome businesses and institu-
tions prefer to work with
national donation and reuse
organizations. National organi-
zations may be more appropri-
ate and effective for situations
in which the donor company
has large quantities of an over-
stocked item or excess finished
products. The list below is a
sampling of national donation
and reuse organizations.
General
T
Educational Assistance, Ltd. (EAL):
EAL provides donated commercial,
industrial, and retail inventory to over
130 colleges and universities. These
institutions establish scholarships
equal to 90 percent of the inventory's
value to help their neediest students.
EAL charges no membership fees.
Call for EAL's free guide explaining
how companies earn tax writeoffs
while helping disadvantaged students
go to college. Contact: Claudia
Mancini, P.O. Box 3021, Glen Ellyn,
IL 60138. Phone: 630 690-0010.
Fax: 630 690-0565.
(scholar@eduassist.org).
Gifts In Kind International: Gifts
In Kind International operates a pro-
gram that matches donations from
nearly 1,000 donor companies with a
network of 50,000 nonprofit organi-
zations. The organization accepts
newly-manufactured products as well
as used products meeting its used
equipment giving guidelines.
Materials handled include office
equipment and supplies, furniture,
personal-care products, clothing, bed-
ding and all kinds of building sup-
plies (no food or chemicals are
accepted). Contact: Veronica
Connelly, 700 North Fairfax Street,
Alexandria, VA 22314.
Phone:703836-2121 Ext. 41.
Fax: 703 549-1481.
(http://www.giftsinkind.org).
Goodwill Industries International:
Operates more than 1,200
autonomous dropoff sites and thrift
stores where donated goods are sold
to finance Goodwill's job and rehabil-
itation programs for the disabled and
socially disadvantaged. In addition to
typical thrift-shop merchandise such
as household goods and clothing,
Goodwill accepts working vehicles of
all kinds, and many branches accept
items in need of repair, for which
they employ handicapped individuals
to do the work. For partners located
in the District of Columbia area,
please note that EPA awarded a grant
in May 1997 to the Davis Memorial
Goodwill Institute local office to help
establish a computer collection pro-
gram servicing DC, Maryland, and
Virginia. Computers will be either
upgraded or repaired for sale or dona-
tion, or dismantled for recycling.
Contact: Goodwill Industries
International, 9200 Rockville Pike,
Bethesda, MD 20814.
Phone: 301 530-6500.
TDD: 301 530-9759.
Fax: 301 530-1516.
(goodwill@goodwill.org).
(http://www.goodwill.org).
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Donation and Reuse Resource Listing
National Association for the
Exchange of Industrial Resources
(NAEIR): NAEIR accepts excess
inventory (new, finished merchandise)
at its 450,000 square foot warehouse,
where it is distributed to more than
6,000 nonprofit member organiza-
tions across the country. A free tax
reduction toolkit that explains the
donation process and includes a for-
mula for calculating potential tax sav-
ings is available by calling NAEIR.
Contact: Corporate Relations, 560
McClure Street, Galesburg, IL 61401.
Phone: 800 562-0955.
Fax: 309 343-0862.
(donor. naeir@misslink. net).
(http://www. misslink. net/naeir/
naeir.htm).
Salvation Army: The Salvation Army
accepts most donated items of any size,
including broken items if needed
repairs are minor. Donations are sold
in the Salvation Army's 1,300-plus
thrift shops, and proceeds are used to
fund their drug and alcohol rehabilita-
tion programs. Contact: James Bradley,
PO. Box 269, Alexandria, VA 22313.
Phone: 703 684-5522.
Fax: 703 684-5538.
(http ://www. salvationarmyusa. org).
The Surplus Exchange: The
Surplus Exchange provides refur-
bished computers and other business
equipment to nonprofit organiza-
tions. Surplus serves nonprofits both
locally and nationally. The organiza-
tion solicits equipment donations
from companies across the nation.
Contact: Rick Caplan, 1107 Hickory,
Kansas City, MO 64101.
Phone: 816 472-0444.
Fax: 816 472-8105.
Trade Bank International (TBI):
TBI is a nonprofit organization with
more than 250 international nonprofit
members. Through their In-Kind
Donation Management Program®,
TBI works with asset recovery firms to
manage the sale of donated items
according to guidelines specified by
the donating corporation. The non-
profit member (which has taken the
title to the materials) receives 100 per-
cent of the donations net value in cash
and trade credits (usable with vendors
in a vast buying compendium).
Contact: Elke Lewis, 2022 Storm
Drive, Falls Church, VA 22043.
Phone: 703 556-0699.
Fax: 703 556-9336.
Construction And
Demolition
T
American Salvage. American Salvage
buys and sells new and used liquida-
tion items, including building materi-
als, office furniture and supplies,
restaurant furniture, household goods,
and warehouse supplies. (No food or
clothing is accepted.) American
Salvage is a for-profit company
(although it does donate some goods
to charity) that works primarily east
of the Mississippi; however, the com-
pany does some work on the west
coast and is happy to provide referrals
to other salvage companies if
American Salvage cannot meet callers'
needs. Contact: Terry Waldron, 9200
NW. 27th Avenue, Miami, FL 33147.
Phone:305691-2455.
The Loading Dock (TLD): The
Loading Dock is a self-sufficient non-
profit organization for the reuse of
building materials. Through the part-
nerships The Loading Dock has
established with nonprofit housing
groups, environmental organizations,
local governments, building contrac-
tors, manufacturers, and distributors,
TLD facilitates and coordinates the
reuse of building materials for low
income housing production in the
Mid-Atlantic region and across the
country. Materials handled include
lumber, toilets, nails, paints, carpet-
ing, and more. Contact: John
Lambertson, 2523 Gwynns Falls
Parkway, Baltimore, MD 21216.
Phone: 410728-3625.
Fax:410728-3633.
Education And Cultural Arts
T
Children's Re-Source Center: The
Children's Re-Source Center is a local
nonprofit organization that accepts
foam, fabric, cardboard, and other
materials from companies that have
overruns, endpieces, scraps, or other
rejects that are no longer usable for the
manufacturer but which may be useful
for children's arts and crafts projects.
Materials are individually priced and
very cheap, and are especially suitable
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Donation and Reuse Resource Listing
for use by teachers and camps. Contact:
Sylvia Murphy or Dottie Keosaian, 42
Trapelo Road, Belmont, MA 02178.
Phone:617484-9290.
Material For the Arts (MFA): MFA
is a local program of the City of New
York, Department of Cultural Affairs
in partnership with the Department
of Sanitation. This municipally-oper-
ated donation program distributes
furniture, computers and other office
hardware, construction materials,
paint, paper products, and other
media to over 1,300 nonprofit cultur-
al organizations and social service
agencies with arts programs in New
York City. MFA has also prepared a
guidance document entitled "Starting
a Materials Donation Program" for
groups interested in developing their
own donations programs. Contact:
Susan Glass, 410 West 16th Street,
New York, NY 10011.
Phone: 212 255-5924.
Fax: 212924-1925.
(materialsforthearts@Juno.com).
Food Donation Resources
T
Foodchain: Foodchain is a network
of prepared and perishable food res-
cue programs. It also provides listings
of local organizations that accept
donations and distributes them to
those in need. Contact: Jeff Whited,
912 Baltimore Street, Suite 300,
Kansas City, MO 64105.
Phone: 800 845-3008.
Fax: 816842-5145.
(rescuefood@aol.com).
T
Second Harvest: Second Harvest dis-
tributes perishable and nonperishable
food and grocery products to the
needy through a nationwide network
of nearly 200 certified affiliate food
banks. Nonfood items may fall under
the categories of excess or test product
inventory, discontinued items, or mis-
labeled or off-spec product, and may
include such products as cleansing
agents, insecticides, laundry products,
and health and beauty aides. Second
Harvest will pick up product from
any location in the United States, and
also provides a nationwide listing of
food programs. Contact: Marketing
Department, 116 South Michigan
Ave - Suite 4, Chicago, IL 60603.
Phone: 800 771-2303 Ext. 122.
Fax: 312 263-4357.
(grocerydonations@secondharvest. org).
(http://www.secondharvest.org).
USDA National Hunger
Clearinghouse's World Hunger Year
(WHY): WHY provides referrals to
anti-hunger and -poverty organizations
nationwide. In the interest of promot-
ing self-reliance, food security, and eco-
nomic justice, WHY partners with and
supports grassroots organizations and
conducts research and educational out-
reach for policy makers, the media,
and the general public. Contact: Peggy
Hupcey, 505 8th Avenue, 21st Floor,
New York, NY 10025.
Phone: 800 GLEAN-IT (453-2648).
Fax: 212465-9274.
(NHCATWHY@aol.com).
(http ://www. iglou. com/why/usda).
Medical Supplies
T
AmeriCares: AmeriCares is a private
nonprofit disaster relief and humani-
tarian aid organization that provides
immediate response to emergency
medical needs and supports long-
term health care programs for all peo-
ple around the world. To do so,
AmeriCares obtains donations of
medicines, medical supplies, and
other relief materials from American
companies. AmeriCares then delivers
these materials to indigenous health
and welfare professionals in many
countries. Contact: Steve Skakel, 161
Cherry Street, New Canaan, CT
06840. Phone: 800 486-HELP
Fax: 203972-0116.
(info@americares.org).
(www.americares.org).
T
Carelift International: Carelift
International solicits recyclable or
reusable medical and dental equipment,
supplies, and pharmaceuticals; collects
and transports medical goods to
Carelift's Service Center; and there
inventories, values, and repairs equip-
ment and readies medical goods for
shipment. Carelift delivers and installs
harvested medical and dental goods,
based on needs assessments, to hospitals
in developing countries that have
requested aid. Contact: Lane Liebman,
GSB Building, Suite 425, One Belmont
Avenue, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.
Phone:610617-0995.
Fax:610668-0930.
(carelift@netaxs.com).
Other
T
Carpel Video: Carpel Video purchas-
es used video tapes for reuse and
video duplication from video produc-
tion companies, television stations,
libraries, universities, and individuals,
and sells them to smaller organiza-
tions such as smaller television mar-
kets and advertising agencies.
Transportation may be provided.
Contact: Andy Carpel, 429 East
Patrick Street, Frederick, MD 21701.
Phone: 800 238-4300 or 301 694-8273.
Fax: 301 694-9510.
T
GreenDisk: GreenDisk is a company
that accepts out-dated, unused software
packages, computer disks, and compact
disks, from across the country. The com-
pany cleanses, tests, erases and reformats
the disks for resale to consumers as
blank, high quality disks. The disks
come preformatted and prelabeled.
Contact: Janna Peach, 8124 304th
Avenue, SE., Preston, WA 98050.
Phone: 800 305-DISK or
425 222-7734.
Fax: 425 222-7736.
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