New Projects at Recycle Ann Arbor

Recycle Ann Arbor is excited to announce two new projects this week which aim to address a range of needs identified by the 501c(3) non-profit organization. The first project commenced on Monday, May 7th and seeks to establish and address how Recycle Ann Arbor is perceived by customers from the City of Ann Arbor and wider Washtenaw County.

Founded in 1977, Recycle Ann Arbor is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization committed to developing innovative recycling programs which reduce the quantity of reusable and recyclable materials going to landfill. In line with its mission, Recycle Ann Arbor wants to expand sustainable initiatives and recycling services but the organization is concerned that, in many localities, residents do not understand the nature of the organization.

Of particular concern are

 -          Recognition that Recycle Ann Arbor is a non-profit organization with a long history in the community;

-          Awareness that Recycle Ann Arbor is not part of the City of Ann Arbor government, but a completely separate organization;

-          Service knowledge of the recycling and reuse opportunities Recycle Ann Arbor provides through all of its departments to both residences and businesses;

-          Company understanding that the four segments, Curbside, Calvert’s, the Drop-off Station and the Reuse Center are Recycle Ann Arbor operations;

To address this, from Monday, May 7th Recycle Ann Arbor is working with the Multidisciplinary Action Project (MAP) from the Stephen M. Ross School of Business at the University of Michigan.

MAP is a critical component of the Ross MBA program. First year Ross MBA students devote themselves exclusively to MAP for a semester each spring as a requirement of the MBA core curriculum. MAP projects work with outstanding corporate, entrepreneurial, and nonprofit organizations and deliver data-driven solutions to real business issues.

The MAP team at RAA consists of four Ross MBA students and will run for seven weeks. At the end of the project, the team will present their analyses and recommendations to Recycle Ann Arbor in both a written report and a final presentation.

RAA hopes that the project will identify the branding perceptions associated with the name ‘Recycle Ann Arbor’ and gain understanding of how customers view the organization. The project will also establish whether there is adequate understanding of RAA’s status as a 501c(3) non-project organization, separate from the City of Ann Arbor, that is dedicated to reducing the quantity of materials that are disposed of at landfill each year.

On Friday, May 11, 2012 Recycle Ann Arbor will participate in a Ford Accelerated Action Day to improve RAA facilities for hosting special projects and work groups. The Ann Arbor area is rich with innovators and with groups who have novel ideas in line with RAA’s mission. However, there is a need for work space and support systems in which such ideas can be nurtured and developed.

On Ford Accelerated Action Days, dozens of MODEL Teams and hundreds of Ford employee and retiree volunteers go to work on community projects identified by nonprofit agency partners.

Bill Ford created the Ford Volunteer Corps in 2005 to unify the company’s goodwill and community service efforts. Each year more than 20,000 Ford employees and retirees participate as part of Ford Model Teams.

RAA hopes to achieve a clean, customized space which can be used for novel innovative projects which address issues in line with Recycle Ann Arbor’s mission of increasing reduction, reuse and the recycling of waste.

Both of the projects, which start this week, will help Recycle Ann Arbor to achieve it’s mission. RAA is excited at the opportunity to work with both the Ross School of Business and a Ford Action Team to broadened the understanding of the organization and provide support to people and groups working on issues in line with Recycle Ann Arbor’s mission.

Working with such groups brings new ideas, perspective, and expertise to Recycle Ann Arbor which, as a non-profit organization, enjoys the collaborative nature of the projects.

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