Program to provide jobs to people with disabilities

Cell phones, telephones, cell phone and laptop batteries and rechargeable batteries are just a few of the items accepted by CompuCycle

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston electronics recycling company will provide jobs and training to people living with disabilities thanks to a partnership with Easter Seals. The campaign kicks off next week.

Through the WhatIF campaign, CompuCycle will offer permanent employment positions to Easter Seals Greater Houston's clients, and Easter Seals will provide initial training courses to its clients to teach necessary job skills including recycling, refurbishing electronics and basic computer proficiency.

Easter Seals serves clients with cerebral palsy and all other kinds of disabilities.

"Our clients have a difficult time finding employment, and often, an even harder time maintaining these jobs," Easter Seals Greater Houston CEO Elise Hough explained in a release. "What's most exciting for us is that through comprehensive training, our clients will have job skills that aren't only applicable to their work at CompuCycle, but for the rest of their lives."

The 60-day WhatIF campaign builds upon the question, "what if unused electronic waste could create jobs for those living with disabilities?" From September 15 through America Recycles Day on November 15, corporations throughout Houston are invited to host their own e-cycling drives or donate their corporate and community e-waste with the goal of garnering 500,000 pounds of electronic waste in 60 days.

Those donations will be used in place of a grant or cash donation in order to provide the capital to fund and maintain the training and employment program.

CompuCycle will collect, audit and process the waste and then donate net proceeds from the equipment to the program instead of paying it back to the corporation.

Eventually, CompuCycle hopes to expand this long-term program on a national level.

Clive Hess, president of CompuCycle, describes the initiative as a "win-win for everyone."

"Corporations can responsibly dispose of equipment that they no longer need, or don't know what to do with, using CompuCycle, a certified company, to safely refurbish the equipment," he said in a release. "Through dropping off these goods with us, these businesses are also simultaneously donating to a terrific initiative, and helping to create jobs for employable people living with a with disability."

For more information on how your business can help the WhatIF campaign, contact Kelly Hess at 832-483-9317 or khess@compucycle.net. For a list of accepted products, visit www.compucycle.net.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Program to provide jobs, training to people with disabilities

Cell phones, telephones, cell phone and laptop batteries and rechargeable batteries are just a few of the items accepted by CompuCycle

  HOUSTON (KTRK) -- A Houston electronics recycling company recently announced that it will provide jobs and training to people living with disabilities, thanks to a new partnership with Easter Seals.

CompuCycle will offer permanent employment positions to Easter Seals Greater Houston's clients and Easter Seals will provide initial training courses to its clients to teach necessary job skills including recycling, refurbishing electronics, and basic computer proficiency.

Easter Seals serves clients with cerebral palsy and all other kinds of disabilities.

"Our clients have a difficult time finding employment, and often, an even harder time maintaining these jobs," Easter Seals Greater Houston CEO Elise Hough explained in a release. "What's most exciting for us is that through comprehensive training, our clients will have job skills that aren't only applicable to their work at CompuCycle, but for the rest of their lives."

CompuCycle and Easter Seals representatives are seeking corporate electronic waste donations in place of a grant or cash donation in order to provide the capital to fund and maintain the program.

Through the new initiative, corporations will donate their electronic waste to Easter Seals Greater Houston. CompuCycle will collect, audit and process the waste and then donate net proceeds from the equipment to the program instead of paying it back to the corporation.

Eventually, CompuCycle hopes to expand this long-term program on a national level.

Clive Hess, president of CompuCycle, describes the initiative as a "win-win for everyone."

"Corporations can responsibly dispose of equipment that they no longer need, or don't know what to do with, using CompuCycle, a certified company, to safely refurbish the equipment," he said in a release. "Through dropping off these goods with us, these businesses are also simultaneously donating to a terrific initiative, and helping to create jobs for employable people living with a with disability."

If you or your corporation are interested in donating end-of-life electronic waste in support of this program, contact CompuCycle online or call 713-869-6700.

(Copyright ©2012 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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Churches provide water during boil notice

  DEMOND FERNANDEZOLD TOWN SPRING, TX (KTRK) -- The massive fire that destroyed a lumber yard near Old Town Spring on Friday is forcing hundreds of homeowners to boil their water.

The fire that started it all happened at Bayer Lumber Yard on Aldine Westfield at Bayer. It affected a couple water tanks that serve 900 homes in the area.

Bayer Water Company is working to fix the water outage, which was caused by a massive lumber yard fire Friday.

It could be a while before the water supply to those homes is safe enough to use, so church leaders decided Saturday morning to take the lead and help the community.

The water came in by the truck load Saturday.

And, by the dozens, families dealing with the water outage rushed in to grab some liquid relief.

"They say we wasn't going to have water. For over a week, we wasn't going to have water," Sydney Williams said.

With the help of HEB, six area churches organized a water distribution center at True Vine Baptist Church.

"We're in the middle of the heat of the summer. Hundred-degree temperatures, no rain in sight. You know, where do we get water from other than our water company?" asked Gladys Phillips of True Vine.

Arson investigators say they're now talking to a couple of teens who may have started the fire that caused the water outage in a hay barn near the Bayer tanks.

The utility company owners say the fire damaged a couple of booster pumps causing service to its customers to shut down.

"We're talking 900 businesses and families without water, not knowing exactly when they are going to get water," Phillips explained.

The water company's owners say service is slowly being restored, and it's already back in some parts of Old Town Spring.

Crews have been on the property, working to replace the pumps.

The Bayers say replacing the chlorination system here make take a few days, but each day without water is a big inconvenience for some of these neighbors.

"I'm used to bathing every night. I couldn't take no bath last night. Clothes all dirty. I don't have no water to wash clothes or drink water. Or wash my dishes. Dishes sitting in the sink, dirty," Williams said.

For now, members of this community say they're stuck preparing for a few more days without water.

"It's got us pulling together. [We're] really pulling together as a community," Ella Senegal said.

Until further notice, a boil water notice -- mandated by the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality -- is in effect for people in the area.

To ensure destruction of all harmful bacteria and other microbes, water for drinking, cooking and making ice should be boiled and cooled prior to consumption.

The water should be brought to a vigorous, rolling boil and then boiled for two minutes. In lieu of boiling, you may purchase bottled water or obtain water from some other suitable source, officials said.

When it is no longer necessary to boil the water, water system officials will notify residents that the water is safe for consumption.

The owners tell us they're hoping to lift that boil notice by Tuesday.

If you have questions regarding the boil water notice, you may contact Bayer Water System at 281-353-2215.

(Copyright ©2011 KTRK-TV/DT. All Rights Reserved.) Get more Local »

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