For over 25 years, Civicorps Recycles has been providing jobs to inner city youth and recycling on a large scale. In 2011, 965 tons of recyclables were collected and recycled in our processing plant.

Environment

Civicorps Recycles is the largest community-based recycler in Oakland. We are contracted to pick up bottles, cans, plastic containers, newspaper, cardboard, and office and mixed paper from commercial institutions, schools, governmental offices, and community events. Some of our clients include UC Berkeley, Landmark Industries, and Mills College. We also distribute containers and manage the recycling at large events like Lafayette Art and Wine Festival, Malcolm X Jazz Festival, and UC Berkeley football games.

When our trucks return from their route, they are weighed and the materials are fed into our single stream recycling line. Here our interns sort each type of recyclable into its own container.

Employment

Youth from the community are hired as interns and gain insight into standards of professionalism, punctuality, development of a work ethic, and participation in community involvement. Interns drive collection trucks, operate machinery in the warehouse, and sort through recyclable materials on the conveyor belt sorter.

We also offer interns training to obtain a Class B driver’s license, achieve equipment certification, and gain experience with collection routes. After completing their stints as interns, employees find work in the retail world at places like Target and Wal-Mart, with environmental agencies like the East Bay Regional Park District, Oakland Parks, and Berkeley’s Community Conservation Center, or in the recycling field at places like Waste Management and Iron Mountain.

Our processing plant is located at 6315 San Leandro Street, Oakland, CA.