1-800-GOT-SCRAP Helps California Schools Raise Money

1-800-GOT-SCRAP has introduced a new program designed to provide a new way for schools in California to raise money. The company, which recycles large metal items like appliances and old cars, is introducing "Learn, Recycle, Earn," a scrap metal recycling program designed to generate revenue for schools while teaching students ways to protect the environment.

According to Cristi Rossi, company COO, while 77 percent of Americans are in the habit of recycling household items like magazines and newspapers, aluminum cans and plastic bottles, many Americans are only beginning to learn about "extreme recycling," whereby old dishwashers, washing machines, refrigerators, stoves, barbecues, bicycles, weight sets and construction materials are being shredded and sorted into different metals commodities and eventually recycled into new products.

"We are delighted to roll out 'Learn, Recycle, Earn' to schools and hope they embrace this program so that we can truly make a difference in the lives of students," says Rossi, who explained that all donated items will be sorted, weighed and sold at full market value and every dollar raised will be donated to the organizing student club or group.

"1-800-GOT-SCRAP is inundated by homeowners requesting that we cart away their nonworking appliances, old cars, rusted tools and obsolete workout equipment. Now, we're asking schools to get involved in collecting large-scale metal items in their communities and 1-800-GOT-SCRAP will pay the school based on the weight of all items collected," Rossi notes.

"In addition, we would like to educate students as to the importance of extreme recycling. We want to emphasize that when scrap metal is recycled rather than thrown into landfills, it reduces pollution, lowers the demand for energy use and expensive fuels, and reduces our carbon footprint," Rossi adds.

She says 1-800-GOT-SCRAP offers a number of easy-to-implement, one-time events and/or ongoing programs for schools, including:
 

• Recycling collection bins may be placed on campus as an ongoing fundraising source.
• The local community can be invited to drop off large scrap metal items on a designated day. Trucks from 1-800-GOT-SCRAP will remove all donations the same day, so space or storage is never an issue.
• Parents may be encouraged to involve their employers.

 More information is available by calling 1-800-GOT-SCRAP or by visiting www.gotscrap.com.