Blue Star Recyclers and Eco-Cycle Launch Boulder Partnership

Blue Star Recyclers (http://www.bluestarrecyclers.org) a Colorado-based recycler of electronic waste, will hold a grand opening for its new partnership with Boulder-based Eco-Cycle, one of the nation’s oldest and largest nonprofit recyclers (http://www.ecocycle.org/), on November 15, America Recycles Day. The partnership allows Blue Star Recyclers to create local jobs for people with autism and developmental disabilities in Boulder. Blue Star employees will process electronics for recycling at Eco-Cycle’s Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials (CHARM) in Boulder.

“This new partnership enables Blue Star Recyclers to expand our mission to Boulder County, immediately create jobs for people with disabilities, and partner with a world leader in community recycling,” said Bill Morris, CEO of Blue Star Recyclers.  “Our employees are particularly talented at repetitive tasks associated with computer disassembly but still face more than 80% unemployment.  In addition to creating an opportunity for meaningful employment, these jobs save taxpayers $18.29 per employee hour.”

“With this partnership, Eco-Cycle will be able to responsibly recycle even more electronics at the CHARM, while employing local residents that might otherwise have a hard time finding work,’ said Suzanne Jones, Eco-Cycle’s Executive Director. “This is a great example of how we build Zero Waste communities through partnerships that provide environmental, economic, and social benefits for everyone,” she added. Last year, roughly one million pounds of electronics were collected at the CHaRM.

The partnership with Blue Star Recyclers allows Eco-Cycle to offer Boulder County a local solution for electronics recycling that exceeds the strictest environmental and data security standards in the industry.   Recycling operations are located at the Eco-Cycle CHaRM Facility at 6400 Arapahoe Road in Boulder. Hours of operation and recycling costs are available at www.ecocycle.org/charm or by calling 303-444-6634.

About Blue Star Recyclers
Blue Star Recyclers (http://www.bluestarrecyclers.org) is a Colorado 501c3 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 facilities in Colorado Springs and Denver. Blue Star Recyclers was co-founded in 2009 through initial and ongoing support of the Fagnant family, owners of Qualtek Manufacturing (www.qualtekmfg.com), a Colorado Springs custom metal manufacturing company.

About Eco-Cycle
Eco-Cycle (http://www.ecocycle.org/) is a Colorado 501c3 nonprofit with a mission to identify, explore and demonstrate the emerging frontiers of sustainable resource management through the concepts and practices of Zero Waste. Eco-Cycle believes in personal and community action to transform society’s throw-away ethic into environmentally responsible stewardship.
 

Contact Information

Bill Morris

CEO

Blue Star Recyclers

(1) 719-494-4436

bill@bluestarrecyclers.org