PSNI’s Cardboard Recycling checks all the boxes

When Panhandle Special Needs, Inc. took over the recycling cardboard business, management quickly realized that the benefits would check all the boxes (pun intended) for achieving their mission to help disabled adults while providing necessary services to the community.

As a division of PSNI’s Employment Services Department, Cardboard Recycling drivers have all gone through rigorous training to become job coaches for adults with special needs.

“Our drivers help these individuals to be successful in employment, offering long-term support, on the job training, and mentorship,” Kim Derr, PSNI’s Work Services manager, said. 

And as for the PSNI clients who are employed on the truck, Derr said, “Our crew of six spent years of training in our various programs to prepare for community-based work, and it shows! While Jeff and Billy bring valuable previous experience, the rest of the team — Steven, Seth, Travis, and Austin — are diving into community work for the very first time, and they couldn’t be more excited.”

 The benefits to the business community are huge. Customers are pleased that they don’t have to deal with the vast amount of cardboard that comes to their facilities each day. 

And speaking of volume, PSNI’s trucks can hold 520 pounds of cardboard. They are picking up roughly 25 loads a week from 85 local businesses. That comes out to over 703,000 pounds or just about 313 tons of cardboard that’s helping the environment in so many ways.

Derr said that Austin, Billy, Seth and Travis are the founding crew members having been with PSNI Cardboard Recycling since May of 2022. Steven came on board in July of that year.

“All members have increased their communication skills significantly due to working as a team in public. However, additional skills include positive work attitude, teamwork and dependability,” she said. “Being on the crew has definitely increased individual confidence.”

When asked what they like best about working on the Cardboard truck, Steven said, “Now I can buy a new computer.” Seth replied, “I love helping people,” while Travis said, “Doing cardboard is fun.” Jeff added, “I really like my job coach and co-workers,” and Billy chimed in with, “This is the best job I have ever had.” But, at the end of the day, Austin said what they were probably all thinking when he said, “I really like getting a paycheck.”

Customers are required to flatten the cardboard and store it somewhere dry. PSNI’s staff will pick it up as often as the business requires. The cost depends on how often the PSNI truck picks up, the average is between $45 and $100 per month.

There isn’t a huge profit after truck and employee expenses, and the expense to take the cardboard to the recycling center is paid, but the earned funds are used to augment PSNI’s employment services so more developmentally disabled adults can be taught the skills to become employed and to live independently.

For more information or to have your business added to a route, check out PSNI’s website, www.panhandlespecialneeds.org/ace-cardboard. Or call 208-263-7022, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.