Residential recycling rates in Colorado are some of the worst in the nation. Currently, the state is diverting 18 percent of waste from the landfill, compared to the 32 percent national average. 

One of the contributing factors to this problem is the lack of universal curbside pick up programs in Colorado cities. The city of Arvada is working towards a solution, and in 2021 became the largest municipality in the state to contract universal recycling. Still, their recycling rates are still sluggish, and many hard to recycle materials can’t go through the average recycling center.

A non-profit recycling center based in Arvada, SustainAbility Recycling, provides a solution to this problem. The company provides employment to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to operate their recycling facility, while keeping hard to recycle items out of the landfill.

“We specialize in hiring individuals who have intellectual developmental disabilities, who also have a history of legal issues. So people who have the highest barriers to employment…” says Melisa Kraai, the co-founder of SustainAbility.

The center is necessary for a community that needs accessible recycling. The employees work hard to provide this service, and enjoy being able to help people properly dispose of materials.

“It’s a small dent…a gesture and I’m grateful to be a part of this,” says Jacob Hossinger, an employee in his second year with the company.

However small that dent may be, it’s made a big impact on the lives of Arvada residents and employees alike. 

For Melisa, the most important thing is “creating a culture where people feel like they belong, feel like they're appreciated, and celebrated and loved, honestly. And when you have that, then people thrive.”

Residents in Arvada rely on SustainAbility to help them get rid of their hard-to-recycle materials, and SustainAbility relies on these employees. As long as they’re around, there are plenty of opportunities to thrive.