Project Description
The City of San Jose used their grant funds to assist the nonprofit Resource
Area for Teachers (RAFT) with expanding their materials reuse activities by
increasing the number of businesses that are aware of and utilize RAFT's
reuse services. The project increased the volume and types of items donated to RAFT by
businesses and the number of school districts, teachers, and students
utilizing and benefiting from RAFT's services.
The steps required to accomplish their project are as follows:
Task 1: Project Administration
Task 1.1: Maintain List of Reusable Materials. (5/02 to 5/04)
To better target materials that RAFT needs, Environmental Planning Consultants (EPC)
and RAFT educational staff generated a list of the top 20 materials of which
RAFT makes use. This list will be updated as needs change. Task 1.1 is 100 percent complete.
Task 1.2: Maintain List of Corporate Donors. (5/02 to 5/04)
To facilitate the communication with RAFT staff, a new online donor form
was developed. Task 1.2 is 100 percent complete and ongoing.
Task 2: Business Outreach
Task 2.1: City Promotion of RAFT Activities. (5/02 to 5/04)
EPC staff attended a City of San Jose garbage haulers meeting to explain
their outreach efforts for RAFT. Hauler customer service representatives said
they would alert specific businesses of the opportunity to donate to RAFT. Task 2.1 is 35 percent complete.
Task 2.2: Develop Specific Collateral Materials. (5/02 to 8/02)
An article was written for a local landscaper newsletter to let them know
RAFT will accept end cuts from PVC pipe. 9,000 brochures for businesses were printed. Cost for printing four color
tri-fold brochures: $2,475. Task 2.2 is 100 percent complete.
Task 2.3: Open Houses. (Quarterly)
Major donor party attended by about 120 businesses. Personal tours of the
RAFT facility were conducted by RAFT or EPC staff, allowing businesses to see
first hand how RAFT operates and the types of materials of which they are able
to make use.
Task 3: Current Donors
Task 3.1: Waste Assessment Training. (6/02 to 8/02)
Due to a turnover in the truck drivers at RAFT, waste assessment training
was postponed to allow the drivers to adjust to their new positions. Task 3.1 has not yet been started.
Task 3.2: Conduct Waste Assessments. (8/02 to 5/04)
RAFT personnel have called and visited former and current donors to provide
broader understanding of the myriad of items RAFT can accept. RAFT and EPC will
conduct on-site waste assessments with RAFT's current donors, seeking additional
materials for donation. Contact will be by telephone, followed-up with an
on-site visit, when appropriate. On-site waste assessments will be conducted in
order to identify additional materials for donation. EPC will submit one-time
materials donations and business contact information to RAFT for follow-up. Task 3.2 is 70 percent complete.
Task 3.3: Collect and Distribute Materials. (8/02 to 5/04)
RAFT has begun collecting and distributing the materials as a result of the
waste assessments. It has been determined that a large percentage of current
donors have donated to RAFT on a one-time basis, primarily office supplies from
a company downsize or move. While these materials are of use to RAFT, materials
that are discarded on an ongoing basis prove the most useful. Targeting
businesses that regularly discard items affords RAFT a steady stream of
donations while allowing the donors to reduce the amount of waste disposed on an
ongoing basis. Task 3.3 is 60 percent complete.
Task 4: New Donors
Task 4.1: Waste Assessment Training. (6/02 to 8/02)
Postponed due to staff turnover, Task 4.1 is anticipated to start in March
2003.
Task 4.2: Conduct Waste Assessments. (8/02 to 5/04)
Informal waste assessments continue to be conducted for all new donors to
help them to identify materials that RAFT can use. EPC conducts visual
assessments of discarded waste with business staff present, so they will better
understand what is useful to RAFT. EPC will continue to identify and contact potential new San Jose business
donors by telephone and on-site visits. RAFT and EPC will conduct on-site waste
assessments with potential new donors in order to identify new materials for
RAFT. EPC and RAFT will select businesses that are geographically close to RAFT.
Companies discarding specific materials that are in high demand at RAFT may be
targeted, as well. Task 4.2 is 35 percent complete.
Task 4.3: Collect and Distribute Materials. (8/02 to 5/04)
EPC continues to approach businesses in San Jose seeking donations of
materials for RAFT. Businesses located in areas near RAFT were targeted
specifically to help reduce the cost of collection. Specific types of businesses
were targeted, as well. For example, landscapers were targeted for pieces of PVC
pipe. Donations of usable items have also come from individual small businesses
that generate just one waste that RAFT can use. A company that makes vertical
wooden blinds is donating their end cuts to RAFT. Other new business donors have
included larger companies that are downsizing and have substantial amount of
various materials including plastic silicon wafer storage boxes, office supplies
and pallet loads of clean room paper. EPC will continue to identify and contact potential new San Jose business
donors by telephone and on-site visits. EPC will submit one-time materials
donations and business contact information to RAFT for follow-up. Task 4.3 is 40 percent complete.
Task 5: Teacher Outreach
Task 5.1: Invitations to Teachers. (8/02 to 5/04)
RAFT has been encouraging teachers to become members and encouraging
districts to sign up their teachers for membership. Since September, RAFT has
given $3.50 discount to 1,386 teachers. Task 5.1 is 75 percent complete.
Task 5.2: Develop Specific Collateral Materials. (6/02 to 8/02)
A new brochure for 2003 is being prepared and will be ready January 2003. Task 5.2 is 50 percent complete.
Task 5.3: Open Houses. (Quarterly)
Task 5.3 is anticipated to start in February 2003.
Task 5.4: Teacher Workshops. (8/02 to 5/04)
RAFT provided 25 Professional Workshops for teachers over the summer months,
before July 31, 2002. RAFT provided 28 Professional Workshops for teachers
during the fall months, before December 1, 2002. Task 5.4 is 50 percent complete.
Task 5.5: Facility Tours. (8/02 to 5/04)
RAFT has provided 16 facility tours in this period. Task 5.5 is 35 percent complete.
*Permission was obtained from grant recipient to publish project profile.
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