‘Recyled Runway’ to Benefit Recycling Company that Employs People with Disablities

SCORE two tickets to ‘Recycled Runway’ to benefit SustainAbility. Headpieces made by Bang Salon composed entirely recycled materials walk the runway. Local artists will display work and musicians will rock out! Plus, pastries from WaterCourse Bakery will be served.

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One randomly selected winner will receive two tickets for show on Friday. Visit: www.sustainability-recycling.com for more information on the event.

Local recycling company, SustainAbility in Wheat Ridge, CO, is fueled by two people’s separate passions. “We have a good marriage of environmental issues and human services,” says director Rachel Nathan. Eighty percent of the workforce at SustainAbility have developmental disabilities. The company opened in March 2010 with 2 employees. With momentum on their side they now employ over 70 workers who do everything from customer service, marketing, disassembling hard-to-recycle materials and sewing.

Co-owner Melisa Kraai has been working with people with disabilities for over 15 years. She says she recognized the need to employ them with meaningful work. “People with developmental disabilities face an unemployment rate of over 80 percent. On the other side, most of us only face eight or nine percent,” says Kraai. On her mission to lower the alarming statistic, Kraai hired Carolyn Peterson who has a developmental disability. Peterson says “I found my niche. I am not going anywhere. Melissa is good at finding something we are good at.”

Spread throughout three warehouses people sort and recycle everything from household items, electronics and hard-to-recycle items like stoves, washers and dryers. By disassembling items that would otherwise be thrown away, like furniture and video tapes, the company comes closer to their goal of zero waste.

In the reception area you notice unique hand crafted purses sewn with scraps from fabric stores that were headed for the dumps.”We would rather repurpose items before recycling them” says Nathan, “Look here these crates are now bookshelves.” Ice cream dishes, salt and pepper shakers and bowls are used for decorations to hold things like coats and purses. Dishwasher racks are used for storage. [wpvideo f4rwYLrj]

SustainAbility creates a working family. Joining the family is Bang Salon as they team up for ‘Recycled Runway,’ to raise funds for the recycling facility. You can see head pieces composed of entirely of recycled materials strut the runway made. Buffalo Exchange will provide the wardrobe, Watercourse foods will serve Vegan pastries and local artists will display their art. To find out more visit www.sustainability-recycling.com

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