The Urban Corps of San Diego County operates an Earned Income Recycling Program that provides recycling collection services to businesses, multi-family residences, and sports venues like Petco Park and Qualcomm Stadium. The program collects recyclables and pays schools and community groups for recyclables through its buyback centers. While the program needs funding from CalRecycle, it is profitable and brings in over $1 million in revenue annually through service fees and material sales. The program aims to further grow its customer base and maintain its services.

1. Earned Income Recycling
Program
Urban Corps Of San Diego County
Mike Hennessy, Recycling Manager

2. Recycling Program Overview
 Business and Multi-Family Residential Collection Services
 100 accounts, 2 to 3 routes a day
 Recycling Education & Community Outreach (ECO) Center
 Providing Education and training
 Stadium Services (servicing Qualcomm, Petco, Cricket)
 Special Events and Bin Rentals (recycling & waste collection)
 35 special events
 Buyback Center at Qualcomm Stadium
 Buyback Center Fundraising Events for Schools, Clubs & Sporting Events
 CRV Fundraising with Schools, Clubs & Sporting Events
 Recycling Internships
 Staffing

3. Strategy
 What earned income services do you provide?
-Business and Multi-Family Residential Collection
Services
-Stadium Services (servicing Qualcomm, Petco, Cricket)
-Special Events and Bin Rentals (recycling & waste
collection)
-Recycling Internships
-Buyback Center at Qualcomm Stadium
 Why was this particular earned income program
chosen?
-These services are in demand in San Diego
-UCO provides a discounted rate in order to capture

4. Target Market
 Target market: Who are your participants/clients?
-Businesses, organizations, schools, Multi-Family Residential
Units, Bars, Restaurants and Sports Venue.
 Value proposition: What value do they receive from your service?
-Compliance with regulations
-Quality service- we strive to exceed expectations
 Competitive advantage: Why do your clients select your service over
competitors?
-Customer Service-
- Help Disadvantage Youth
-Benefit to community
-Competitive pricing
-Services that other haulers will not provide (U.S. Grant)

5. Operations
 How does the program work?
-Materials are dropped off at our BBC, picked up on routes, or gathered from Sports
venues. -Depending on the program we charge a fee for service and/or collect
CRV/scrap value from the materials.
 What materials are collected, processed and/or sold?
-CRV and Scrap (paper, cardboard, non-CRV plastic, glass, and aluminum)
 What equipment and facilities are needed?
 -vehicles
-Sorting Center: conveyor belt and compactor
-Buyback Center: sorting table, cash register, scale, storage units
 Describe the staffing and corpsmember needs of the program.
-Daily Routes: 2-3 Staff & 4-6 corpsmembers
-Special Events: contingent on event
-Stadium Services: 6 Staff and 40-70 corpsmembers

6. Financial Information
 What are the capital (financial) needs to operate this program?
-$1,771,535 operating cost 11/12
 How much do you charge for your services?
- Petco: $2,700 per event
-Qualcomm: $4,725.00 per event or if back to back $9,450.00
-Special Events: Rate $25 per CM/hour, $35 per Staff/hour. Always
negotiable.
-Plus item rentals: $100 for twelve 96 gallon bins, $5 per Clearstream or $8
per pair
 Is the program profitable? What is your net income (or net loss) per
year?
 - $1,190,077.61
 Could you operate this program without CalRecycle funding?
-NO

7. Collaboration
 Who are the key collaborators and what are their
roles?
Our key collaborators are our major sponsors which
include:
-Aramark (PETCO)
-Cricket (Special Concerts)
-Qualcomm
-OMBAC (OTL)
-SD Unified School District
-Alvarado Hospital

8. Key Lessons
 What lessons did you learn from this
program?
 Customer Service
 Planning
 Budgeting
 Negotiation
 Contracts
 Billing

9. Next Steps
 What are the next steps for the program?
(maintain, grow, pivot)
Strategies for future growth include:
-Add more businesses to existing routes
-Research and pursue special events
-Place more Interns
-Maintain $25/30 rates

10. Questions

11. Thank You!