YUMA, Ariz. -- Circle K Stores Inc. and Habitat for Humanity have announced the placement of Enviro Green Collection Houses at 16 of the convenience stores in Yuma, Ariz., where people can place their empty aluminum cans and plastics for recycling, reported The Yuma Sun.
Proceeds from the recycled products help fund Habitat's home-building efforts in the Yuma area, Debra Hunter, business manager, told the newspaper. In the process, it helps the environment by keeping all those empty cans and bottles out of the landfill.
It's so [image-nocss] exciting to be able to give back to the community, Angela Anger, a district manager for Circle K in the Yuma area, told the paper. We wanted to send a message to the community that we're not just about making money. We want to give back. We saw a need for recycling and thought this would be an excellent opportunity to give customers a place to recycle their cans and bottles and also help Habitat.
The collaboration began after Anger became aware of Habitat's aluminum can recycling program during a special can drive held earlier this summer with the assistance of Sam's Club.
We heard they were looking for sites, Anger said. We jumped at the chance. We thought our stores would be convenient. We see so many bottles and cans in the trash. We hope people will make the extra effort to take a few steps to put them in the [Enviro] houses instead of the trash.
Habitat began its aluminum can recycling program in 1997 with its trademark blue Snoopy houses. Since then, the agency has raised $500,000, said the report.
With the help of Circle K, the agency is now taking its recycling to the next level, Hunter said. The houses are being repaired if necessary, given a paint job and a new image and are being placed in more visible locations, such as the Circle K stores.
In addition to aluminum cans, people also now can deposit plastic products in the little houses, the report said.
We're partnering with recycling companies to take them, Hunter said. We're concerned about all the plastic going into the landfill.
Members help make our journalism possible. Become a CSP member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.