dumpster – YouTube – Princeton University Dumpster Divers
In these trying financial times it is increasingly difficult to find funding for neighborhood associations. With more need and less funds, there is more competition than ever for money.
One of the most popular events for neighborhood associations to host is a dumpster day. Traditionally, neighborhood associations like to host annual dumpster days to allow neighbors to clean the excess that has gathered throughout the year. This is especially important to low income neighborhoods that are concerned about the neighborhood image and want to bring pride to their neighborhood.
The biggest obstacle to dumpster days is the cost. It isn’t unusual for dumpster days to run upwards of $10,000 – $15,000 for one day. Of course the biggest need for dumpster days is in the poorest neighborhoods. Unless the neighborhood association can secure a sizable grant, it isn’t likely that a poor neighborhood will be able to fund this event by themselves.
What if we approach this problem from a different angle? Suppose that most of the items that get thrown away have value as a recyclable. If most of the items were recyclable then there wouldn’t be a need for dumpsters. And if you could sell the recyclable items, then you could actually make money on this event instead of spending it.
As it happens, the Salvation Army (in San Jose) has piloted a new program that partners with neighborhood associations and local groups for collections. Of course you knew that the Salvation Army accepted donations but here’s what you didn’t know. They don’t just take reusable items, they take unusable items and they take e-waste. They accept all clothing even un-wearable, including shoes, and bail it for recycling as fibers. Old mattresses (fibers), refrigerators (metal), blankets (fibers), cell phones (e-waste), used ink cartridges (recyclable), couches (fiber), glass (recyclable), you begin to get the idea.
Salvation Army gets to keep the money from the recycle but will split the money from the e-waste with the neighborhood association. Depending on the amount of e-waste collected the amount you can expect to collect will vary but could easily range from $300-$1000 depending on prevailing cost, amount collected, and percentage of split negotiated.
So if Salvation Army can take most of the “waste” and recycle it, there would be a lot less space needed for “trash”. I believe the ratio should be around a 5-1 savings in dumpsters. This means that if you expected to spend $10,000 on 5 dumpsters you could now expect to pay $2000 for 1 dumpster and pay for a good portion of it out of the e-waste revenue.
If you combine this event with a prescription drug drop off, hazardous material drop-off, and blood drive, you can create a very dynamic event with very little expense, but huge benefit to the neighborhood.
Remember, these are difficult times and the norms, paying large amounts of money for events, we have come to expect must be challenged.
If you want to see an example of a neighborhood association website and how these events are promoted go to http://www.strawberryparkna.org/
Ed Brooks is a founding officer of the Strawberry Park Neighborhood Association http://www.strawberryparkna.org He serves as a mentor for new neighborhood associations. He has written successful grant requests for his neighborhood and put together very successful neighborhood events.
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