Colorado is one of the healthiest states in the nation and that extends to how we want our environment to be as well. Here are a few easy ways your business can give back while being green.
Recycle for a cause
There are a variety of office supplies that can be recycled besides paper. There are cups, ink cartridges, batteries, light bulbs and more; but are you recycling your electronics? This month the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Blue Star Recyclers and Uber to recycle used computers and laptops to be put into low-income households or schools for free or at a low cost. Give back to the community by donating your old electronics.
Join us in recycling your electronics Thursday, April 21 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. by requesting an Uber to pick up your old electronics to be delivered to the Chamber. Learn how to donate through the Uber app.
Leave your car in the garage
When it comes to how you get to work, there are a number of options. A new commuter rail line to Denver International Airport opens Friday, and the bicycle share program B-cycle is adding new stations. Businesses can help by offering an eco-pass for those employees who take the bus or light rail into work each day, promoting carpooling opportunities to reduce the number of single cars on the road or providing incentives for using ride and car sharing options
Check out how much traffic congestion lessens when we’re not driving alone in our cars and how you can get around Denver without a car.
Making the Chamber green
We try to practice what we preach here at the Chamber. We work to be a leader in sustainable and green practices including Certifiably Green Denver, LEED and Energy Star ratings we just improved our Energy Star rating by six points) and providing eco passes to all interested employees at no charge. We are continually looking for ways to give back to our community and decrease our impact on the environment.
Interested in other tips to make your office greener? Read how these three tips will make your office greener.
Laura James is the communications and marketing coordinator for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
On Thursday, April 21, Uber will partner with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Blue Star Recyclers to support the final donation push of the groups’ month-long computer recycling drive.
For one day only, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents of Denver wishing to support the cause will have the option to request the ‘DONATE’ option through the Uber app for a computer collection pick-up within minutes. The used computers and laptops collected will be recycled by Blue Star Recyclers – a National Association for Information Destruction-certified electronics recycler that create jobs for people with autism and other disabilities – to be put into low-income households or schools for free or at a low cost.
“We’re excited that Uber is joining the effort to help collect used computers and laptops for our community members that need them most,” said Blue Star Recyclers CEO Bill Morris. “It’s great that a local tech company, like Uber Denver, is supporting this effort by making collection simple for Denver residents.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Blue Star Recyclers and Uber on this drive,” said Denver Metro Chamber President and CEO Kelly Brough. “We know we work better together and this is a great example of organizations coming together to support an organization that puts Coloradans to work while ensuring we safely recycle electronics that may have otherwise gone to a landfill.”
All collected computers will be delivered to the Chamber, which has been collecting recycled computers for Blue Star Recyclers since March 22 as part of the computer recycling drive. This month-long initiative culminates on Earth Day, this Friday, April 22.
HOW TO REQUEST
If you’re unable to request a pickup during the promotion, you can still help by bringing in your used computer or laptop to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce at 1445 Market St. in Denver by Friday, April 22.
This is just one way the Chamber works to be a leader in sustainable and green practices, which also include Certifiably Green Denver, LEED and Energy Star ratings (and the Chamber just improved its Energy Star rating by six points); a composting and recycling program; a solar array and wind turbine on its roof; and a provides eco passes to all interested employees at no charge.
Denver residents can donate used computers and laptops at the tap of an app
On Thursday, April 21, Uber will partner with the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Blue Star Recyclers to support the final donation push of the groups’ month-long computer recycling drive.
For one day only, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., residents of Denver wishing to support the cause will have the option to request the ‘DONATE’ option through the Uber app for a computer collection pick-up within minutes. The used computers and laptops collected will be recycled by Blue Star Recyclers – a National Association for Information Destruction-certified electronics recycler that create jobs for people with autism and other disabilities – to be put into low-income households or schools for free or at a low cost.
“We’re excited that Uber is joining the effort to help collect used computers and laptops for our community members that need them most,” said Blue Star Recyclers CEO Bill Morris. “It’s great that a local tech company, like Uber Denver, is supporting this effort by making collection simple for Denver residents.”
“We’re thrilled to partner with Blue Star Recyclers and Uber on this drive,” said Denver Metro Chamber President and CEO Kelly Brough. “We know we work better together and this is a great example of organizations coming together to support an organization that puts Coloradans to work while ensuring we safely recycle electronics that may have otherwise gone to a landfill.”
All collected computers will be delivered to the Chamber, which has been collecting recycled computers for Blue Star Recyclers since March 22 as part of the computer recycling drive. This month-long initiative culminates on Earth Day, this Friday, April 22.
HOW TO REQUEST
1. Open your Uber app between 11a.m. and 2p.m. on Thursday, April 21
2. Toggle to DONATE in your app
3. Tap ‘REQUEST COMPUTER PICKUP’ and an Uber will be there in minutes to collect your items for donation to support Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and Blue Star Recyclers’ computer recycling drive
If you’re unable to request a pickup during the promotion, you can still help by bringing in your used computer or laptop to the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce at 1445 Market St. in Denver by Friday, April 22.
This is just one way the Chamber works to be a leader in sustainable and green practices, which also include Certifiably Green Denver, LEED and Energy Star ratings (and the Chamber just improved its Energy Star rating by six points); a composting and recycling program; a solar array and wind turbine on its roof; and a provides eco passes to all interested employees at no charge.
About the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce
For nearly 150 years, the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce has been a leading voice for Colorado’s business community. With a membership that spans the state and includes 3,000 businesses and their 300,000 employees, the Chamber is a strong advocate for small and large businesses. For more information, go to denverchamber.org.
About Blue Star Recyclers
Blue Star Recyclers is a nonprofit organization that is a certified electronics recycler who exists to create jobs for people with autism and other disabilities. Refurbished computers are then put into low-income households and schools for free or at a low cost.
About Uber
Uber gives people the power to push a button and get a ride. By seamlessly connecting riders to drivers through our apps, we make cities more accessible, opening up more possibilities for riders and more business for drivers. From our founding in 2009 to our launches in over 300 cities today, Uber's rapidly expanding global presence continues to bring people and their cities closer. Follow us on Twitter @Uber_CO and find us on Facebook: Uber.
We do one thing here at the Chamber: We put Coloradans to work. In really good jobs. And, we devote ourselves to this mission because we believe nothing creates more opportunity for a family or increases the likelihood of children realizing their dreams than when their parent has a good job. The other side of that coin is that we also believe few things are more devastating than when a family member loses a good job. Work is a powerful thing—besides allowing people to take care of themselves and their families financially, it increases people's confidence and esteem and it delivers hope and possibility.
Each and every one of our members plays a role in helping us achieve this mission. You run great companies. You help influence policy to ensure Colorado is a great place to do business. You support and contribute to nonprofits. You pitch other companies to come here. And, most importantly, you hire people.
Lately, we’ve all been talking about how many jobs we’ve added in Colorado and how our unemployment rate has dropped. But when you dig into those statistics, we know there are Coloradans whose unemployment rate is higher—such as our veterans, our youth and people with disabilities. This week we’re focusing on people with disabilities because October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Here are a couple of interesting facts: people with disabilities make up about 20 percent of our workforce and are unemployed at a rate twice that of people without disabilities.
Here are some members who are doing something about those statistics:
Blue Star Recyclers, based in Colorado Springs, recycles electronic waste. By doing so they’ve created 38 jobs for people with autism and disabilities across four communities and recycled 6.8 million pounds of electronics. Talk about a win-win. And they’ve had no employee turnover or absenteeism—now that’s impressive. They are not only making our state greener but they are truly helping deliver on the promise that we have a job for every Coloradan. And, you can help: Donate your electronics to them and you will help put more Coloradans to work.
Goodwill Industries of Denver knows the power of work. They help people of all ages and abilities find meaningful employment, and creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities is part of their focus. In fact, Goodwill is the only vocational service program in Colorado for adults who are deaf or hard of hearing. And, yes, you can help: Donate your used clothing, household items and office furnishings and you will be putting more Coloradans to work.
Laradon works here in Denver to provide a variety of services to people with disabilities including employment. Whether offering support and training to help people get and keep a job, be part of a work team or volunteer, Laradon’s services help people build confidence and find the right fit that allows them to be more self-sufficient. Laradon also serves people whose disability is challenging enough that they cannot work, but you can still help. Donations will ensure those who can work find meaningful opportunities to do so or get the support services they need.
Each of these organizations is helping make sure ALL Coloradans find their place at work.
And, there’s one more thing you can do: You can create a work environment that offers training to interns and attracts employees with disabilities. There’s lot of support to help you do just that—our own Laradon and Goodwill have programs for employers.
Meaningful work changes lives—help us find more ways to give every Coloradan the chance to work.
Kelly Brough is president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
