Tri-Ced Community Recycling

Mission: 
Tri-CED forms partnerships with community based organizations, schools, teachers, and faith based organizations to promote source reduction, recycling collection. composting and community education programs designed to reduce waste and raise awareness about our environment.  Tri-CED employs hard to employ youth and needy adults, and shares residual proceeds with the community.

Our Story:
Tri-CED Community Recycling is California's largest non-profit recycling organization dedicated to hiring hard to employ individuals and reintegrating them back into the workplace and community since 1980 by providing job training, work experience and permanent jobs.Tri-CED was formed in 1980 by Bert Perez, Frank Roesch, Richard Valle and several other members of the Union City community and other volunteers from the Tri-CED board of directors. Volunteers started by collecting aluminum cans, glass bottles, newspaper and cardboard at a small buy-back recycling center located under a Pepper tree at the Union City Youth Program on Mission Boulevard. Tri-CED also began picking up recyclables at churches and schools in Union City and eventually was able to secure a location on Central Avenue in Union City for its buy-back operations. In 1992 Tri-CED moved to its current location at Western Avenue. The current site (4.5 acres) is now an asset of Tri-CED.Tri-CED received its first grant for $750 from Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in 1980. The money was used to buy a beam-scale that was used to weigh the recyclables. Since then, Tri-CED has worked with the California Pollution Control Financing Authority (CPCFA) to help finance expansion activities and contractual obligations. Special thanks to Mr. Bruce Groulx for his work with Tri-CED during the early years when the organization was creating opportunities in Union City and Hayward.Tri-CED has joint operating agreements with Allied Waste and Waste Management in the Cities of Union City and Hayward. Tri-CED recycles approximately 1,200 tons of residential recyclables per month and also collects and recycles over 600 tons per month of residential organic/yard waste per month. Tri-CED now provides environmentally sound E-waste processing in response to SB-20 by recycling CRT and LCD screens from computers and televisions. Tri-CED also accepts other electronic equipment and peripherals at the Buy-Back Center.Tri-CED has a long and successful history of providing employment to at promise young people. Our job-training component prepares participants for direct unsubsidized employment with Tri-CED. The job training and work experience program typically takes place within a six-month period and, for those participants who have successfully completed this training and work experience program, we hire them on a permanent or part time basis depending on job availability. Many young people continue their education while employed at Tri-CED and may work only on Saturdays. Tri-CED will offer assistance with books if a student decides to pursue their GED or other training programs that will enhance their personal life and help them to with their individual goals. These services may include family/individual counseling, substance abuse therapy and gang intervention counseling and assistance with applications to a community college or adult school.We leverage our close relationship with other social service programs and organizations to obtain the desired resources to accomplish the goals and objectives of each participant. Tri-CED also provides direct educational and community service activities to enhance our employees self-esteem, create positive lifestyle changes (when appropriate and consistent with their assessed goals) and to improve their skills and capabilities to function effectively in our society.