Arc Wins 2010 WRAP Award

We are honored to announce that the California Integrated Waste Management Board awarded the Arc of Butte County a 2010 Waste Reduction Award certificate.

CIWMB presents the WRAP certificate in recognition of waste prevention business practices that reduce green house gas emissions, protect the environment and preserve valuable resources. You can learn more here on the FAQ page http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WRAP/FAQ.htm

Arc Store crew bundles old clothes to be recycled.

“Our recycling and waste diversion philosophy is codified in the Arc Employee Handbook, not just as a commitment to environmental sustainability, but also as a means for Arc to increase the profitability of our agency.” explains Tom Leonardi, Arc Associate Director and Respite Program Coordinator.

The Arc supports its programs for special needs children and adults with developmental disabilities in part by operating two ARC Stores in Chico & Oroville www.thearcstore.org , The ARC Pavilion Banquet Hall www.arcpavilion.org and an EBay store.

The stores takes donated used items and resells them at greatly reduced prices. What cannot be resold be it clothes, books, electronics, scrap metal etc is recycled. An estimated 250,000 lbs. of potential trash gets diverted away from the county landfill each year through Arc retail sales.

As a business, Arc offices recycle all in-house office paper, and promotes the recycling of glass, aluminum and plastic by employees. Arc provides receptacles and allows the staff to use the funds from recycling for their own activities. The green waste from our landscaping is delivered to the city green waste compost facility. It is Arc’s policy to not throw out any item that can be re-sold or re-used at one of our retail stores.

Since 1953, the Arc of Butte County has provided high quality services for special needs children and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Now in 2010, The Arc serves approx 900 families in Butte and Glenn Counties. www.arcbutte.org