After more than 20 years of working with developmentally disabled individuals, Melisa Kraai decided she wanted to do something that helped that sector of the population, while helping to take care of the planet they live on.

“I saw people with capabilities that were being wasted by society, so I came up with this idea and started the business,” Kraai said about Sustainability, a recycling company in Arvada.

The recycling company, located at 5394 Marshall St., opened in 2010 as a way to increase recycling throughout the city. The organization now provides two locations for residents to freely drop off their recycling.

“This is a one-stop-shop to drop off recycling,” Kraai said. “We’re making it convenient for Arvada residents to stop and drop off for all their recycling needs.”

Started as a company that was serving the environment, Sustainability now works in conjunction with Parker Personal Care Homes, to employ individuals with developmentally disabilities. This model has helped launch the company within the city and to be recognized by the Colorado Department of Public Health as a business with impact upon the city, the state and the planet.

“Not only were they (sustainability) setting up a drop-off site where people can drop off their stuff for free,” Eric Heyboer, a grant administrator with the CDPH said, “but they are employing those with developmental disabilities — a sector with a really high unemployment rate — and they are running a profitable business.”

The organization utilizes a model that matches the individual’s skill set and passions with a position within the company. They meet with each individual and find out what type of position they will enjoy and excel at. Since its inception, Sustainability has grown their company from two to 110 employees, 90 of whom have a disability.

Arvada will soon have two drop-off sites. One serves the northwest part of the city, 6945 Indiana Ct., and the second, a hard-cycle location, will open April 1, at 6380 W. 54th Ave. Both sites will accept a variety of materials, but the hard-cycle site will accept electronics, cork, latex, paints, Styrofoam among other hard-cycle materials.

“So many good people have been drawn to being of service to our planet as human beings, I love that this is a place where they can come and have a place to work and not just work, but have mining in society.

For more information about Sustainability, visit .