PRESERVING THE ENVIRONMENT WHILE
SUPPORTING OUR VETERANS
UWVC Recycling reduces waste, funds veterans causes
T
he United War
Veterans Council
(UWVC)
Recycling Program, the largest
reusables
program of its
kind in the metropolitan
area, announced this fall
that it has collected more
than 23 million pounds
(over 115,000 tons) of clothing and household goods
since launching in 2008, a
tremendous milestone for
the program.
The success achieved
by UWVC Recycling is
not only good for the environment and veterans,
but metro area residents
as well. In New York City
for example, the program
has exhibited multiple
benefits:
• It helps the environment
by keeping useable
items out of landfills;
• It saves taxpayers
nearly $150,000 per
year in disposal costs;
• It helps veterans by
providing revenue for
UWVC programs;
• It allows people to take
a tax deduction for
donations of clothing
and household goods.
Last year UWVC Recycling collected 1,488 tons
(more than 2.9 million
lbs.) of donated clothing
and household goods, a
30 percent increase over
2013.
Trash disposal
costs New York City approximately $100 per ton,
with the program saving
taxpayers an estimated
$148,800 by removing that
burden from the City’s
waste collection system.
With greater cooperation
from New York City, the
existing operational infra-
structure of the program
is capable of more than
doubling both collections
and taxpayers’ savings.
UWVC Recycling leaders credit its success to
the implementation of a
true ‘closed-loop’ system,
where items are collected
and recycled by re-using
them in their original
forms. This closed-loop
system is beneficial to the
environment, as it does
not contaminate the recycling stream and it is less
expensive for municipalities and taxpayers.
“Our program is a
win-win recycling option
for veterans, the City, taxpayers and the environment,” said UWVC President Vincent McGowan.
“With our program, we
are able to fund initiatives
for veterans while saving
taxpayers money and I believe it can also be a major
force in helping achieve
the Zero Waste goals of
OneNYC.”
“Our program offers
concierge, door-to-door
pick up service triggered
simply by scheduling via
a phone call or visit to our
website. This sustainable
social model is an ideal
solution that benefits all:
veterans, tax payers, municipalities and the environment,” said Debra
Menich who has led the
UWVC Recycling Program since it began in
2008.
The UWVC Recycling
program does not use
collection bins. It provides a premium service
by allowing residents or
building managers to log
on to uwvcpickup.org or
call 888-821-UWVC (8982)
to arrange a convenient
pickup for clothing, textiles and household items.
UWVC
Recycling
picks up gently used
clothing and household
goods from homes and
apartment buildings, providing metro-area residents with a convenient,
effective way to give to
our veterans. Proceeds
benefit the UWVC’s mission to positively impact
and serve the veterans
community. With over
40,000 new veterans projected to join the 225,000plus veterans already in
the area, UWVC Recycling will play an important role in ensuring that
these men and women
receive the support and
assistance they deserve.
LEARN MORE: www.uwvcrecycling.org
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