Painting the town green

Recycling Today, March, 2005

The town of San Jose Villanueva, El Salvador, hopes to become a cleaner place in 2005, thanks to 2,100 recycling bins donated by Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Cascade Engineering. Cascade Engineering made the donation in conjunction with Epilogos Charities, a nonprofit organization that seeks to bring lasting relief to victims of poverty through education, leadership training and community development. The 18-gallon recycling bins, along with donated clothing, dental equipment and other supplies, arrived in El Salvador in January.

"Cascade Engineering's sustainable business philosophy extends beyond the local West Michigan community and we're happy to help out with these bins," Mike Lobbestael, Cascade Engineering vice president of Industrial Solutions, says. "This donation is a way for us to help an impoverished village improve their living conditions, waste disposal and removal. It's good for the environment, but more importantly, it's good for the residents of San Jose Villanueva."

Epilogos Charities says waste removal is a major problem in the village and the bins will dramatically decrease diseases caused by festering garbage.