Goodwill aims to cut waste through Give Back Box project

Ringing in the new year means taking down the Christmas tree and doing away with unnecessary clutter and boxes that may have accumulated from the holidays. A new project sponsored by Goodwill of Central Iowa and Amazon — the Give Back Box — hopes to aid in that effort.

Many Amazon users can relate to the abundance of boxes. That is why the recycling project advocates for cutting down waste and helping others in the process. Anyone can donate items around their home and utilize an empty Amazon box.

After packing the box with clothing or household items, donors can print off a free label from the website, givebackbox.com, and ship the box to a local Goodwill. The shipping is paid for.

The project hasn’t reaped as many donations as Goodwill had hoped but Carol Warren, vice present of Goodwill Industries of Central Iowa, said the idea has gotten wind lately.

“This is third year we have tried this,” Warren said. “We weren’t getting great results until we got the word out.”

Warren said once the idea got some more publicity, there were at least 34 boxes sent to the headquarters building in Johnston.

“Newton is one of our stores that we reach in our 22 counties,” Warren said. “I think it’s been really positive just seeing people load these boxes, and they can ship them instead of having to load them up in their cars.”

Warren said if people in rural areas become aware then the donations might begin to increase.

The Amazon boxes are sent to the nearest Goodwill shop participating in the program. Goodwill then sells the donations to support job training and other services.

Warren said some people might not know the other benefits that are involved when donating to Goodwill.

“We provide job training to people to generate revenue,” she said. “When people are making donations that is benefiting that cause.”

Avoid shipping liquids, fragile, hazardous, volatile items or any ammunition in the boxes.

Contact Kayla Langmaid at 641-792-3121 ext. 6513 or klangmaid@newtondailynews.com