Blue Star Recyclers Unveils New Facility in Chicagoland

Buffalo Grove, IL USA – WEBWIRE – Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Ribbon Cutting in Buffalo Grove

“Our foundation believes in empowering youth with disabilities,” said Keijiro Hora, president of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc.

With financial support provided by Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, Blue Star Recyclers unveiled its first facility in Illinois on November 20, 2019. Blue Star Recyclers recycles electronics for businesses and residents while creating jobs for young adults with autism and other disabilities.

Blue Star Recyclers sought support from Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation to expand its mission of employing people with autism and replicate the success of its Colorado operations in the Chicago area. The company has been operating in Colorado for 10 years and currently employs 50 people in its locations in Denver, Colorado Springs, and Boulder. 80% of employees have a diagnosed disability or barrier to employment and six serve on supervisory, lead, or senior leadership teams.

“Our foundation believes in empowering youth with disabilities,” said Keijiro Hora, president of the Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation and president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., who helped cut the ribbon on the new facility. “We are proud to support the expansion of Blue Star Recyclers to Chicago as an employer of people with disabilities,” continued Hora.

Mitsuharu Kiwada, senior general manager, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, Kevin R. Webb, senior director, Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation, also joined in the ribbon cutting, with other foundation directors, staff and volunteers in attendance.

Also participating in the ribbon cutting were Bill Morris, co-founder of Blue Star Recyclers, Tony Fagnant, co-founder of Blue Star Recyclers, and Sam Morris, president, Blue Star Recyclers. Distinguished guests included Randy Lewis, author of No Greatness Without Goodness, the President of the Village of Buffalo Grove, and representatives from Colliers International, Dynamic Lifecycle Solutions, Rotary International District 6440, local school district special education and transitions programs.

Volunteers from Mitsubishi Electric Automation, Inc., based in Vernon Hills, Illinois, celebrated America Recycles Day, on November 15, by collecting over 1500 pounds of electronics that were delivered to Blue Star and recycled as part of the ribbon cutting event. The facility is now open to the public. Hours of operation can be found on the website at www.bluestarrecyclers.org. Businesses wishing to arrange for service may call 847.349.4020 for more information.

Blue Star Recyclers (www.bluestarrecyclers.org) is an award-winning, 501(c)(3) social enterprise, with a mission of providing certified electronics recycling services to create local jobs for people with autism and other disabilities. Blue Star Recyclers delivers measurable results in job creation, taxpayer savings and environmental stewardship, and operates three facilities in Colorado and one near Chicago.

Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation (www.meaf.org), based in the Washington, DC area, was established in 1991 by Mitsubishi Electric Corporation and the Mitsubishi Electric US companies, which produce, sell and distribute a wide range of consumer, industrial, commercial and professional electronics products. The Mitsubishi Electric America Foundation has contributed more than $18 million to organizations that are empowering young people with disabilities to lead more inclusive and productive lives.