Dive Brief:

• Civicorps is a nonprofit group that offers job training and educational opportunities for individuals who didn’t complete high school.
• Participants in the program collect recycling in Oakland, CA. Last year the program expanded to include organic waste pick-up from 164 eateries and other institutions around the city.
• The program is looking to expand further now that Waste Management has agreed to allow Civicorps to collect organic commercial waste throughout the entire city after an agreement was reached between the city of Oakland and the waste and recycling company over a $1 billion contract dispute. 

Dive Insight:

Alan Lessik, the executive director of Civicorps, said, “This program will be a model for the entire country.” He said it represents a unique partnership between local business, city government and job training for local youth.