Reuse and Recycling for Good

Sustainability for our environment and a thriving workforce

BY LEAH WILLIAMS

WHILE RECENT EFFORTS are advancing the process of extracting the full value of many manufactured items, there’s still tremendous opportunity for consumers and organizations to do more.

Through a new recycling initiative, glass that is donated to Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County can be pulverized and converted back into sand, and into larger, gravel-sized pieces called cullet. The new initiative aims to keep glass that is broken or not sold in a retail location out of the landfill and put back into use.

The process for this transformation is remarkable and involves a glass pulverizer machine that’s manufactured several hours north of the First State in Richfield Springs, New York. Affectionally dubbed ‘Sandy,’ Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County’s glass pulverizer is projected to convert 177 tons of unsold glass into sand and cullet at the Goodwill Recycling Center in New Castle, Delaware.

In a grant request spearheaded by Goodwill of Greater Washington, Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County, and Goodwill of the Chesapeake, each were able to purchase the glass pulverizer machines with funding from the Truist Charitable Foundation.

These valuable raw materials can be sold—generating revenue for our nonprofit mission—and used in applications that might include construction, coastal and stormwater remediation, crafts, and landscaping.

Glass recycling is just one of several sustainability initiatives that Goodwill is undertaking in Delaware. Others include plastic film (single use plastic bags, or any clean, dry plastic that is thin and pliable enough to push your thumb through), cardboard, electronics, textiles, and plastics. With more than 550,000 donations pouring into Goodwill annually, the potential impact of our reuse and recycling initiatives is staggering.

People. Planet. Prosperity.

The three-pronged rationale for Goodwill developing these initiatives is simple, and it’s aligned with our mission to improve the quality of life for people facing barriers to self-sufficiency through the Power of Work! It’s about serving people, preserving our planet, and creating opportunities for prosperity. Thus, at the heart of our sustainability programs is a workforce development component—equipping our team members with green job skills, hands-on experience with manufacturing equipment, digital skills, and opportunities to develop soft skills like team work, critical thinking, and adaptability.

“Our sustainability initiatives represent a significant step forward in our commitment to environmental stewardship and economic development,” says Colleen Morrone, CEO of Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County.

“Upskilling more than 500 team members in Delaware and Delaware County is a testament to our belief in the potential of every person to contribute positively to society.”

Leah Williams is vice president of brand and community engagement at Goodwill of Delaware & Delaware County, a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life for people facing barriers to self-sufficiency, through the Power of Work!