A little more than a year ago, we started a new project to compliment our established metal recovery program in the salvage/recycling department.

We send all of our electronics to a responsible electronics recyclers, but before they go out the door our goal is to cut off every cord from every device. Since the product is at the end-of-use cycle, it doesn’t need the cord. It is quick and easy to do with wire snips. The cord has something valuable inside the rubber insulation and that is copper. Our metal recovery recycler melts the rubber leaving the copper. In addition, any type of electrical cord and wire and electronic cables are included. We sell the cords, wires and cables to reclaim the value of the copper.

In 2010 we have sold over 45,000 lbs. of cords, wires and cables which provided Goodwill $21,000.00 in additional funding for our mission and created a part time job in our salvage/recycling department.

A huge plus is the efficiency and low cost of the project. It takes very little space and the transportation costs are low due to the dense weight of a gaylord box (large cardboard box) filled with cords, wires, and cables.

For several years we have had a metal recovery recycling program collecting metals. We have metal collection bins at our Holt Building in Nashville, the Berry Road facility in Nashville where the salvage team is located, and recently added a collection bin at a Goodwill warehouse in Nashville. In 2010 we sold 468,000 pounds of metal for more than $33,000 in revenue.

Goodwill kept more than one half million pounds of steel or mixed metals, copper and aluminum of end of life products, from going into the landfill. Instead it is shredded and repurposed into new products.

Although an old USB cable or a non-working extension cord may seem small, it is a very valuable commodity.

In addition to donating to Goodwill, what other tips and practices do you use to recycle and divert items from landfills?

Going Green is a natural state for Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee. If you think about it, what we do everyday in this organization is the process of recycling. The goods we receive in donations still have another cycle-of-use directly into the homes of our retail customers, recycling from one home to our store to another home. Apparel and household goods that have the potential of ending up in the landfill after just a single family’s use now have a chance of being used again. Whether it is moving a product to continue the cycle-of-use into another home or recycling the raw elements which will be used to create another product, it is all recycling. It’s good for Goodwill and good for our community.

For that we must first salute our donors for engaging, not only in a donation to provide us with the funds necessary to fulfill our mission, but also actively participating in extending the cycle-of-use of a product.