How Boards Can Help the Planet and Our Veterans While Earning Tax Deductions
April 2, 2015 — Earth Day is just a few weeks away. In fact, it's exactly one week after tax day, April 15. And that's a great opportunity for co-op and condo boards to do bit of good for the planet while earning some tax deductions by giving to charity. How?
One way is for co-op and condo boards to coordinate with The United War Veterans Council (UWVC) Recycling Program, the largest recycling program of its kind in New York City. In 2014 alone, program organizers collected a scale-tipping 1,488 tons — that's more than 2.9 million pounds — of clothing and household goods. And they are still hard at work collecting.
New Yorkers throw away nearly 200,000 tons of clothes, towels, blankets, curtains, shoes, handbags, belts and other textiles and apparel annually. Rather than have all that material end up in landfills, boards can help building residents donate it to the UWVC program. Here are some incentives:
- It helps the environment by reducing landfill waste.
- It saves taxpayers nearly $150,000 per year in disposal costs, by removing the burden from the city's waste collection system. (Trash disposal rates cost the city roughly $100 per ton.)
- Donations of clothing and household goods are tax deductible.
- If you donate to the UWVC, you're helping veterans out.
"Our program has proven itself to be a win-win recycling option for all, for veterans, for the city, for taxpayers and for the environment," said UWVC President Vincent McGowan. "With our recycling program, we are able to fund programs for veterans and save taxpayers money."
The UWVC program offers what a spokesperson refers to as "white glove door-to-door pickup service." Unlike other similar clothing and household goods recycling programs, the UWVC does not use collection bins. However, it still makes participation convenient. Building managers can either go to http://uwvcpickup.org or call 888-821-UWVC (8982) to arrange a convenient pickup for clothing, textiles, and household items.
Debra Menich, who has lead the UWVC Recycling Program since it began in 2008, said that the program's fleet of more than 50 trucks is out canvassing the boroughs daily. "We look forward to working with the city to expand the program, increase collections, and save taxpayers even more money in 2015."
Proceeds are invested in programs for veterans. With more than 40,000 new veterans projected to arrive in New York City in the next decade, UWVC Recycling is looking to ensure that these men and women receive the care and assistance they deserve.