PRo Kansas Recycling Center Reaches The ‘Bail Out Our Baler’ Campaign Goal
PRo Kansas Recycling Center, the region’s largest and most comprehensive free non-profit recycling facility, is honored and grateful to announce it has reached the goal for the Bail Out Our Baler Campaign.
Over 100 individuals and businesses and a KWCH Channel 12/DeVaughn James Injury Lawyers Helping Hand Grant
raised $15,000 for baler repairs. The baler is a critical piece of equipment which compacts and bundles recycled materials for shipment. The funds cover costs for the needed major repairs, keeping the baler in service for years to come and avoiding an estimated $60,000 replacement cost. And thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the community, Pro Kansas will also be able to cover baler supplies, operation, and upkeep for the next year as well.
As the only free, comprehensive, non-profit recycling facility in the region, PRo Kansas has only grown in importance to the community over time. More people every year use the Center to recycle. In recent months, as more than a half dozen recycling centers in the region have  closed their doors, PRo Kansas has also seen an increasing number of people from those communities come to use the facility as well. Currently over 2000 customers visit the Center every month to recycle and Pro Kansas is on track to keep nearly two million pounds of materials out of landfills this year alone.
PRo Kansas launched its Bail Out Our Baler Campaign to pay for repairs because of major changes in the recycling market. In previous years, income from the sale of recycled materials covered all Center expenses. But China’s exit from much of the recycling market and the current lack of capacity in the U.S. have depressed prices for recycled materials by 50% to 90%.
A History of Accomplishments and Stewardship
PRo Kansas was chartered as a not-for-profit, 501(c)(3) corporation in 2002, with a mission of providing both recycling services and public education. The facility offers a place to recycle a broader range of materials (16 categories) and results in more complete recycling than single stream. In its 15-year history, PRo Kansas has kept 22 million pounds of recycling out of landfills. Paper recycling alone has saved nearly 50 million gallons of water, 80,000 barrels of oil and 120,000 trees. Over 2,000 individuals, families and businesses a month come to the recycling center, and the numbers continue to grow. This year alone, PRo Kansas is on track to process over two million pounds of recyclables. PRo Kansas also has an extensive Education Program that reaches over 3,000 children and adults every year. Since inception, more than 20,000 school children and scouts have learned about recycling through PRo Kansas.
For more information, visit our website, Facebook page, or facility (open Tues. and Thurs. 1- 4p, Sat. 9 -3p) or email operations@prokansasrecycling.org. Donations and volunteers always welcome. All donations are tax-deductible.
You Can Still Help!
** There is a DONATE link above.
** Donate by mail to: PRoKansas Recycling, 725 E. Clark, Wichita KS 67211
** Donate at the Center. We have two donation boxes on site. Also come see our operation at work and get answers to any questions you might have.
** Bring your recyclables – and tell your friends. The Center is supported by the sale of materials, so you help the planet AND the Center every time you and your friends and neighbors recycle.
** Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PRoKansasMiller. Follow our baler campaign, get updates on the Center and more information about recycling. Please also share with your friends to let them know about this critical recycling resource here in Wichita!
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