PARKERSBURG, W.Va.,
Nov. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- A
West Virginia nonprofit organization is making a difference in the
lives of people with disabilities while benefitting the environment
at the same time.
The Jackson County Developmental Center (JCDC) of Millwood has embarked on a partnership with
RightCycle by Kimberly-Clark Professional to provide employment for
people who have survived traumatic brain injuries or have been
diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, learning disabilities and
other conditions.
The JCDC employees remove zippers and other metal parts from
protective garments so that the apparel can be recycled through the
RightCycle Program, the first large-scale recycling program for
non-hazardous lab, cleanroom and industrial waste.
"Oftentimes people with disabilities are treated as if they
can't work," said Sara Rose,
development and communications specialist for JCDC. "The RightCycle
Program provides them with a job and a very clear task. It's
adaptable for lots of different ability levels – whether it's
removing a snap or zipper or processing the whole garment."
The RightCycle Program diverts previously hard-to-recycle items,
such as single-use garments and gloves, from the waste stream and
turns them into plastic pellets. These are then used to create
consumer products and durable goods such as shelving, totes, and
lawn and garden furniture. Since its launch in 2011, the program
has diverted more than 450 tons of waste from landfills.
"The RightCycle Program is all about making a difference –
diverting used garments and gloves from the waste stream and giving
them a second life," said Lisa
Morden, senior director of global sustainability for
Kimberly-Clark. "Working with JCDC enables us to extend the social
impact of the program by helping to provide employment
opportunities that help to improve people's lives."
The RightCycle Program also dovetails with JCDC's commitment to
the environment and to developing "green" lines of business.
"One of our goals is to eliminate waste in landfills and reduce,
reuse and recycle," said Mark
Crockett, JCDC production manager. "This is a perfect
example of going that extra step and getting a high volume of
apparel and other items that had been previously landfilled and
finding a way to recycle them. Generally, when you think of
recycling, you think of wood pallets, plastic and glass, you don't
really think of cleanroom suits as being recyclable. This is a step
in the right direction that, hopefully, will expand to a point
where it becomes commonplace to recycle them."
For JCDC employees, the program benefits extend beyond the
financial.
"They grow by leaps and bounds because of the quality of life
gained from employment," Rose said. "The work also provides a sense
of community and belonging."
For some, the experience has been truly life-changing. One
current employee arrived at JCDC from another agency with a blunt
assessment: "He can't really do anything."
"He's been named employee of the year three times," Crockett
said. "He works hard here. He bales. He counts. He weighs the
bales. It just shows that with some patience, understanding and a
willingness to let people show you what they can do, they can do
anything."
It's a ripple effect that is felt well beyond the JCDC
production floor. JCDC works to educate the community about the
importance of inclusion and giving everyone a chance to participate
in work and social activities. Families know that their loved ones
are in a safe environment during the day. And employees without
disabilities form friendships with people they might not otherwise
get to know.
"From the young woman working side-by-side with people with
significant disabilities to the older gentleman who had previously
been institutionalized and unable to contribute to society, the
RightCycle Program adds value to a wide variety of lives," Rose
said. "People with disabilities are not defined by their
disability. They're defined by the same things the rest of us are.
When you think about the big picture, we all want to have purpose.
And I can't think of a better purpose than giving someone the
opportunity to find theirs."
About JCDC
The mission of the Jackson County Developmental Center, Inc. (JCDC)
is to provide quality support for life training and employment
opportunities for people with disabilities. Since 1979, JCDC's
purpose has been to assist people with disabilities with support in
their lives and in employment. JCDC helps people find, obtain and
retain jobs in their communities and helps families by offering
individuals with disabilities a safe place to be during the
day.
About Kimberly-Clark Professional
Kimberly-Clark Professional partners with businesses to create
Exceptional Workplaces, helping to make them healthier, safer and
more productive. Key brands in this segment include: Kleenex,
Scott, WypAll, Kimtech and Jackson Safety. To see how
Kimberly-Clark Professional is helping people around the world to
work better, please visit www.kcprofessional.com.
About Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) and its well-known global brands are an
indispensable part of life for people in more than 175 countries.
Every day, nearly a quarter of the world's population trust
Kimberly-Clark's brands and the solutions they provide to enhance
their health, hygiene and well-being. With brands such as Kleenex,
Scott, Huggies, Pull-Ups, Kotex and Depend, Kimberly-Clark holds
No. 1 or No. 2 share positions in 80 countries. To keep up with the
latest news and to learn more about the Company's 145-year history
of innovation, visit www.kimberly-clark.com or follow us on
Facebook or Twitter.
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