(Photo courtesy of Opportunity Foundation)
The Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon offers recycling services to local businesses and households which helps minimize the environmental impact that our daily activities generate. Their services provide many opportunities for recycling; everything from basic household items such as newspapers and cardboard, to computer components and other small electronic devices.
The Opportunity Foundation is a place where community partners can save money and leave a smaller environmental footprint.
Mike Caisse, Opportunity Foundation vocational director, says, “Our definition of sustainable is using resources that are renewed at a rate equal to or greater than the rate at which they are consumed, as well as taking a long term view of the affects our various activities have on the environment. The Opportunity Foundation takes pride in its programs and services for people with diverse abilities. Providing a benefit to our environment is just icing on the cake.”
As consumers become savvier about the green credentials of the businesses they support and seek more creative ways in which to use resources wisely, the Opportunity Foundation shares the following statistics.
• The Opportunity Foundation’s recycling programs have processed over 11 million pounds of material since 2009.
• As part of their recycling efforts, the “ecycling” program breaks down electronic components into recyclables, such as copper, aluminum, and plastic.
• Thrift stores in Bend, Redmond and Madras run by the Opportunity Foundation take in large quantities of donations including clothing, appliances, furniture, sporting equipment, house wares, and books. Many of those items would normally end up in local landfills. What isn’t sold at the thrift stores, is baled, broken down into recyclable parts, or sold to other entities.
The Opportunity Foundation of Central Oregon is a non-profit organization founded in 1965 to provide services and supports for persons with diverse abilities. They envision a world where all people live, learn, and work together.
If you would like information regarding the recycling services provided by the Opportunity Foundation, call 541-548-2611.
