FirstEnergy and Toledo Edison Employees Join Forces to Transform Recycling into Community Support Locally and Globally

In a remarkable display of community spirit and environmental consciousness, employees of FirstEnergy and its electric company Toledo Edison recently completed a “spring cleaning” effort to collect and repurpose non-traditional recyclable items, including eyeglasses, denim jeans, empty pill bottles, used or broken crayons and aluminum pull tabs.

The diverse group of employees shared one common goal: To bring aid to individuals and families in need, both locally and globally.

Led by FirstEnergy’s Green Team in northwest Ohio, employee volunteers embarked on a mission that not only showcased their dedication to the environment but also demonstrated their compassion for those less fortunate. FirstEnergy’s 10 Green Teams consist of employees from Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and West Virginia who volunteer their time and talents to support a wide variety of environmental initiatives, including tree donation and planting events and sponsoring fishing line recycling bins at local parks and waterways.

“We wanted to find a way to repurpose unused household items, like jeans, that you generally don’t think about recycling to benefit our local community and reduce waste simultaneously,” said Trina Myers, a customer account specialist at FirstEnergy and Green Team member who organized the Toledo Edison events.

The efforts in the greater Toledo area resulted in the collection of nearly 70 pairs of denim jeans, which were donated to Go Green Ohio, in partnership with Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, Inc. This organization specializes in transforming denim into a unique form of insulation for homes, making a positive impact on both energy efficiency and sustainability.

“The collected denim is shredded into cotton fibers and remanufactured into housing insulation to benefit communities affected by natural disasters,” said Erek Hansen, founder of Go Green Ohio. “This is a great way to keep these textiles out of our northwest Ohio landfills while benefiting families in need.”

Another aspect of the collection involved the employees’ dedication to helping children and families facing challenging circumstances.

Collecting an impressive seven pounds of aluminum pull tabs from containers like soda pop, soup and pet food cans, the Toledo Edison team donated them to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio. These small, seemingly insignificant items hold immense value for the organization, which works with a local recycling company to turn the tabs into money for its programs and guests.

Additionally, several pairs of used eyeglasses were donated to 419 Cares, a Toledo-based organization dedicated to serving homeless individuals. The eyeglasses were distributed to those in need, providing them with the gift of improved vision.

Taking their mission beyond state and U.S. borders, Toledo Edison employees also collected nearly 200 prescription bottles that were donated to organizations that fulfill the dual needs of improving medical care in developing countries and caring for the environment.

“Toledo Edison has always valued corporate social responsibility and these initiatives highlight our commitment to supporting the communities we serve,” said Myers. “We are extremely proud of our employees’ efforts and the impact they have made on both a local and global scale.”

For more information about FirstEnergy’s environmental and corporate responsibility efforts, please visit www.fecorporateresponsibility.com.                                                                                                                                 

NEWS CONTACT: Lauren Siburkis, (330) 203-8850