## Goodwill of Orange County ##

San Juan Capistrano Teams Up with Goodwill to Reach E-waste Collection Goals

Goodwill of Orange County recently announced its collections data for 2008 through the organization's E-waste Solutions Program. In 2008, the organization collected over 60,000 pounds of electronic waste in San Juan Capistrano alone-- diverting hazardous waste from local landfill. According to Dan Rogers, President and CEO, Goodwill of Orange County, San Juan Capistrano is helping to set the pace for the rest of the County.

"Electronic waste is the fastest growing waste stream. Each year, consumers and businesses discard tens of millions of televisions, computers, cell phones, and other electronic products. Thanks to Ziad Mazboudi, and his team at the city, they have helped to bring greater awareness of the importance of recycling and their efforts are making San Juan Capistrano one of the greenest places to live in Orange County," said Rogers. Both Mazboudi and the City of San Juan Capistrano were presented with Goodwill's E-waste Solutions awards at the city council meeting held on April 21.

State law requires that cities meet 50% diversion goals. San Juan Capistrano reportedly diverted over 63% of its waste from landfill. Last year alone, Goodwill of Orange County received more than 4.3 million pounds of electronics through its donation stream. Ten to 30 percent of electronic donations are e-waste, and safely recycling or disposing these products directly impacts Goodwill's job training and career services throughout the county. E-waste is either recycled or resold through Goodwill's Computer Works Store in Santa Ana or online through shopgoodwill.com.

Rogers notes that the challenge is to find economical ways to recycle and reuse these products. To combat e-waste, Goodwill refurbishes, de-manufactures or re-sells unusable computers and their components, or, where permitted, disposes of unwanted electronics in landfills or pay to recycle them. Every component of the e-waste stream is disassembled and sold in the USA - nothing goes overseas. Goodwill of Orange County's State Certified Recycler holds among one the biggest market shares of e-waste recycling in California and meets directly with the State regulatory agencies to refine the collections and recycling policies. Goodwill of Orange County regularly holds collection events with cities, churches, schools and businesses throughout Orange County and also accepts e-waste at its retail stores and attended donation centers throughout the region.

The City of San Juan Capistrano is partnering with Goodwill of Orange County on May 2, 2009 to host a spring E-waste collection event at the City Hall parking lot in San Juan Capistrano. Donations of working and non-working cell phones, computers, fax machines, laptops, printers, televisions and VCR players will be accepted. Items that will not be accepted include large appliances, batteries, fluorescent tubes, or any other household hazardous waste.

In addition to Goodwill's E-waste Solutions, Goodwill of Orange County operates 19 retail stores including the online auction site shopgoodwill.com as well as a variety of critical business services including document destruction, packaging and assembly, custodial services and workforce development The organization has provided thousands of people with disabilities and other barriers the opportunity to achieve the highest levels of personal and economic independence though competitive employment Nine-one cents of every dollar spent is reinvested back into services, earning Goodwill of Orange County a four-star rating from Charity Navigator for organizational efficiency and capacity. Additional information can be found at ocgoodwill.org.

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About Goodwill of Orange County

Goodwill of Orange County is a nonprofit organization with its Main Campus located at 410 North Fairview in Santa Ana. Now in its 85th year, Goodwill of Orange County has provided thousands of people with disabilities and other barriers the opportunity to achieve their highest levels of personal and economic independence through competitive employment. Goodwill of Orange County has consistently received a four-star rating, based on organizational efficiency and organizational capacity from Charity Navigator, America's premier independent charity evaluator. For more information on Goodwill of Orange County and its education, training and employment programs and services, please contact Katherine Ransom, Communications Manager at (714) 547-6308 ext. 308 or katheriner@ocgoodwill.org. Information can also be found at www.ocgoodwill.org

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