Casella, Goodwill honored for collaboration

Casella Waste Systems Inc., Rutland, Vermont, and Gorham, Maine-based Goodwill Northern New England announced June 3 that the New Hampshire Businesses for Social Responsibility (NHBSR) awarded the two organizations the 2020 NHBSR Partnership for Innovation Award at its annual spring conference.

The award recognizes Casella and Goodwill’s Job Connection program, which encourages people in New England to act more sustainably while also helping people who have significant barriers to employment get and keep jobs. Casella helped fund Job Connection’s expansion into Vermont.

“We realized a unique collaboration could help build stronger communities. Goodwill’s Job Connection program was that sweet spot,” Rich Cantz, president and CEO of Goodwill Northern New England, says.

Job Connection helps clients overcome past addiction, long-term poverty, mental health issues and other obstacles keeping them from employment. The program provides job seekers with both a career adviser and a social worker to help individuals work through challenges to better equip them for employment.

Paul Ligon, senior vice president of sustainable growth at Casella, says the power of the partnership begins with resource management.

“Casella’s staff are experts in recycling—Goodwill is an expert in reuse," he says. "When we collaborate to make the highest use of every item, the planet benefits. Obviously, both of us see sustainability as going beyond that to [include] a strong focus on people and building stable lives through meaningful work.”

Goodwill reuses and recycles more than 60 million pounds of material every year. Casella’s investment of volunteered time and industry resources has been key to furthering Goodwill’s sustainability goals. Specifically, Casella has helped the nonprofit improve operational efficiency and safety standards, allowing Goodwill to make the most use of every donation and keep items in use.

“This partnership is an extension of our company’s 40-year history of building community and environmental sustainability,” John Casella, chairman and CEO of Casella Waste Systems Inc., says. “Working with Goodwill to give people facing challenges a second chance is an important part of our focus on finding, training and growing talented employees from all walks of life.”