Valley Community For Recycling Solutions

What Valley Community For Recycling Solutions does

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered in Palmer, Alaska, that operates the Mat-Su Valley's primary household recycling center. Founded circa 1997-1998 and now in its 28th year of operation, VCRS accepts drop-off recyclable materials from community members, runs the ReUsed Bookstore, hosts educational field trips, and stages community events such as the Recycle Revival festival. Its Palmer facility was the first LEED Gold industrial building certified in Alaska in 2011, anchoring the organization's environmental credibility.

The organization's revenue model is diversified across individual and business memberships (tiered from $25 individual to $250+ business and higher patron levels), corporate sponsorships, donations (including a PFD matching program with Subaru), foundation and municipal grants (including Mat-Su Health Foundation and Mat-Su Borough), event fees, and bookstore sales. Operations are supported by 18 paid staff and a network of 400+ volunteers serving a membership of 1,700+.

VCRS extends its physical reach through four transfer sites in outlying Mat-Su communities, allowing residents outside Palmer to drop off recyclables without traveling to the flagship facility. Strategic partners include the Mat-Su Borough, Green Valley Recycling, Thermo-Kool of Alaska, ConocoPhillips, Mat-Su Health Foundation, and Subaru. The organization has progressively broadened its accepted materials stream (most recently adding glass) and has opened an eBay sales channel for the ReUsed Bookstore to diversify resale revenue.

Name

Valley Community For Recycling Solutions

Legal name

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions

Website

https://valleyrecycling.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a household recycling center in Palmer, Alaska, serving the Mat-Su Valley through drop-off recycling, a ReUsed Bookstore, educational programs, and four outlying transfer sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Recycling Services

NAICS

Waste Collection (5621), Materials Recovery Facilities (562920), Materials Recovery Facilities (56292)

SIC

Sanitary Services (4950), Refuse Systems (4953)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Stream MRF Operations (Residential Curbside Sorting) (BPALADAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Recycling Transfer & Consolidation (Single-Stream, Dual-Stream, Source-Separated) (EUAIABAC), Fiber Recycling & Pulping (Paper, OCC, Mixed Paper) (BPALADAD)

Keywords

• Community recycling services
• Household drop-off recycling
• Recycling education programs
• Reuse bookstore operations
• Waste diversion programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Palmer

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership with tiers from $25 (Individual) to $250 (Business). Members receive an annual windshield sticker and a $3 suggested donation waiver at drop-off. Over 1,700 members.
2. Donations & Tribute Gifts: Honor and memorial giving program accepting tax-deductible donations by mail, phone, or online. Accepts Pick.Click.Give. donations from Alaska PFD. Subaru of America matched donations up to $10,000 for Earth Day 2022 campaign.
3. Annual Music Festival Fundraiser: Recycle Revival annual music festival held at Skeetawk in Hatcher Pass, the organization's biggest fundraiser. $20 admission, includes local bands, dancing, beer garden, food vendors, and silent auction.
4. Business Sponsorships: Business memberships and sponsorships at $250 (Business Member) and $500+ (Business Sponsor levels). Sponsors receive recognition on the website for one year and at Recycle Revival event.
5. Grants & Capital Project Funding: Grant funding for capital projects from grantors including Mat-Su Health Foundation, Alaska Community Foundation (ALPAR), and ConocoPhillips Alaska. Supports building, equipment, and operational expansion.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) operates a community-based household recycling drop-off center in Palmer, Alaska, accepting sorted materials including #1 PETE, #2 HDPE, #5 PP plastics, paper, metals, and glass. The organization bales and ships materials to manufacturers, runs the ReUsed Bookstore to resell donated books, and delivers educational programs including facility tours, classroom presentations, and field trips for schools and community groups.

Product overview

Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) operates as a community-based nonprofit recycling center serving the Mat-Su Borough, Alaska. The organization offers a single integrated recycling service with multiple components: a household recycling drop-off facility accepting sorted materials (plastics #1/#2/#5, paper, metals, glass), a ReUsed Bookstore for resale of donated books, and educational programs including field trips and classroom presentations. Additional services include classroom rental, a membership program with annual tiers, e-waste recycling events, transfer site partnerships for outlying communities, and garden pot exchange programs. The organization hosts community events including the annual Recycle Revival Music Festival, Alaska State Fair recycling booth, O.C.E.A.N. Earth Day celebration, and Our Second Skin textile waste awareness events. Pickup services are available through partner Green Valley Recycling.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Household Recycling Drop-Off Service

Quantifiable outcome

• 18-20 tons of recycling collected per year at Alaska State Fair alone, with over 15 tons of cardboard
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mat-Su Borough (Solid Waste)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 20 December 2011The Mat-Su Borough is a core strategic partner providing access to transfer site infrastructure across outlying communities. MSB Solid Waste and community volunteers enable recycling at transfer sites in Sutton, Big Lake, Willow, and Talkeetna. VCRS works with the Borough to reduce landfill impacts by recovering resources from the waste stream.
• Green Valley RecyclingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGreen Valley Recycling (GVR) is a local Mat-Su Valley business that provides curbside-style pickup services. GVR collects recycling from customers and delivers it to VCRS. They accept everything VCRS accepts and separate materials for customers. Bi-monthly pickup rates apply. Eldon is the owner.
• Thermo-Kool of AlaskacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal manufacturer that transforms materials collected by VCRS into new products. All newspaper and 50%+ of cardboard recycled at VCRS stays local — made into cellulose insulation, hydroseed mulch, and stable bedding at Thermo-Kool of Alaska in the Mat-Su Valley.
• Valley Garden ClubminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the free e-waste recycling events held at Mat-Su Borough transfer sites in partnership with Valley Garden Club.
• Fred Meyer Community RewardsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVCRS is registered in the Fred Meyer Community Rewards program. Shoppers link their Fred Meyer Shopper's Card to direct community reward funds to VCRS at no cost to the shopper.
• FashionPactminorGTM or Marketing PartnerVCRS is allied with FashionPact, a fashion sustainability platform. When customers donate clothing or shop at FashionPact's 2 Anchorage locations, VCRS is listed as the beneficiary, directing thrift donations to support the recycling center.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Mat-Su Borough Solid Waste Division: Municipal partner providing transfer site access for VCRS recycling in outlying communities. Operates the Central Landfill that VCRS's diversion efforts reduce pressure on.
• Habitat for Humanity ReStore: Nonprofit reuse retail operation diverting building materials and household goods from landfill. The ReUsed Bookstore model and reuse mission of VCRS closely parallel the ReStore concept at smaller scale.
• Better World Books: Social enterprise that collects and resells used books online with proceeds funding literacy programs. Comparable to VCRS's ReUsed Bookstore and eBay channels, though operating at much larger scale.

Regional players

• Anchorage Water & Wastewater Utility (Recycling Program): Operates municipal recycling drop-off and curbside programs in Anchorage, the largest Alaska market adjacent to VCRS's Mat-Su Valley service area. Most directly comparable Alaska recycling program.

Broad incumbents

• Waste Connections of Alaska (Alaska Waste): Largest commercial waste and recycling hauler in Alaska providing curbside collection, transfer, and disposal services statewide. Operates broadly across Alaska's waste stream rather than specializing in community drop-off recycling.

Direct peers

• Recycle Ann Arbor: Michigan nonprofit operating a community drop-off center accepting single-stream recyclables and a reuse center, funded by memberships, donations, and grants. Highly comparable operating model to VCRS.
• Eco-Cycle: Boulder, Colorado-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating a community recycling drop-off center, an education-focused reuse center, and zero-waste advocacy programs. Closest analogue to VCRS in mission, model, and reliance on volunteers and members.
• Greenstar Recycling: Ithaca, NY nonprofit affiliated with GreenStar Cooperative that operates drop-off recycling and reuse services with strong educational programming. Comparable in scale, community-driven model, and member-funded revenue.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC5fj3SukR_V-_y5GYjRr9Wg
• Facebookfacebook.com/profile.php
• Instagraminstagram.com/recyclematsu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vcrs-alaska

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Valley Community For Recycling Solutions