Dive Brief:
- The nonprofit Vintage Support Group Inc. in Belleville, IL plans to open a fourth recycling and shredding site in the next three months, all of which are staffed by people who have mental disabilities or traumatic brain injuries.
- The service began 11 years ago and provides area residents and businesses a place to safely destroy and dispose of documents and recycle paper, newsprint, cardboard, plastic and glass.
- Executive Director Beth Sahuri said the work provides their clients with wages and a sense of purpose and responsibility.
Dive Insight:
Vintage Support Group is providing a service to the community as well as to its workers, similar to nonprofits in other states. Sahuri said their mission is to conserve resources while serving as a leading regional employer of those with development disabilities.
"A lot of people just don’t know we’re out there," she said. "There’s other recycling and shredding companies that are in the area. I think people want to do good for others if they knew that they’re providing work for these individuals plus gratification and purpose of life."