The One Million Toilet Paper Rolls Project
Location
My goal is to raise awareness for recycling and how easy and simple it can be by managing a project with its goal being to collect one million toilet paper rolls to be recycled! I am confident that people (young and old) would have fun with this project, that it would easily garner a lot of media attention and that it would draw attention to the importance of recycling!
About You
Section 1: You
First Name
Candace
Last Name
Fitzsimmons
Website URL
Organization
Country
United States, VA
Section 2: Your Organization
Organization Name
Organization Website
Organization Phone
Organization Address
Is your organization a
Non‐profit/NGO/citizen sector organization
Organization Country
Your idea
Name Your Project
The One Million Toilet Paper Rolls Project
Country and state your work focuses on
United States, VA
Describe Your Idea
My goal is to raise awareness for recycling and how easy and simple it can be by managing a project with its goal being to collect one million toilet paper rolls to be recycled! I am confident that people (young and old) would have fun with this project, that it would easily garner a lot of media attention and that it would draw attention to the importance of recycling!
Website URL
Innovation
What makes your idea unique?
To my knowledge, this has never been done before. People love projects that are simple to do and draw upon everyday and simple items (hence why the fundraisers involving pennies always do so well and draw so much attention). Everyone uses toilet paper. It's an easy thing to recycle (unlike milk cartons and soda cans, they don't need to be cleaned, etc.). However, most people do not recycle these. Further, they frequently appear on the list of items that most need to be recycled. I think this project would be embraced by many schools, as it's an easy way to teach their students the importance of recycling and it would be very simple for the students to gather these and bring them to school.
Do you have a patent for this idea?
No
Impact
This Entry is about (Issues)
What impact have you had?
This is a brand new project that I hope will be developed.
Problem
The project will address the great need for recycling. Despite all the attention over the years that has been drawn to the subject, countless people still do not participate.
Actions
This is a new project that I am proposing so no steps have been taken yet -- but hopefully soon!!
Results
One million toilet paper rolls will be recycled. More importantly, thousands of people will become active -- and hopefully lifelong -- participants in recycling.
What will it take for your project to be successful over the next three years? Please address each year separately, if possible.
It will take volunteers who work on coordinating these efforts with the community and finding spots to bring and store the toilet paper rolls. Since I have many contacts in the local community, I think I would have no trouble finding people to get involved.
What would prevent your project from being a success?
Lack of coordination and good communication among volunteer leaders.
How many people will your project serve annually?
More than 10,000
What is the average monthly household income in your target community, in US Dollars?
Don't know
Does your project seek to have an impact on public policy?
No
Sustainability
What stage is your project in?
Idea phase
In what country?
United States, VA
Is your initiative connected to an established organization?
No
If yes, provide organization name.
How long has this organization been operating?
Less than a year
Does your organization have a Board of Directors or an Advisory Board?
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with NGOs?
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with businesses?
Does your organization have any non-monetary partnerships with government?
Please tell us more about how these partnerships are critical to the success of your innovation.
Approximately 150 words left (1200 characters).
What are the three most important actions needed to grow your initiative or organization?
1. Put together a core group of volunteer leaders.
2. Develop a logistical plan of how this will work.
3. Develop a marketing plan for this project.
The Story
What was the defining moment that led you to this innovation?
I am the room parent for my daughter's 2nd grade class. In planning for their class Halloween party, I came up with the idea of making candles from toilet paper rolls. My daughter and I spent over a month collecting toilet paper rolls. I collected them from work too. We would ask other people for them too. After the project was done, I admit that I just naturally stopped doing this. However my daughter never stopped. She still collected them at home and always gave them to me. She would bring them home from her weekend visits to her father. Soon, she was making me feel very guily about my behavior and I started collecting them again too. I decided not yet to recycle them but to hold onto them to reuse for another art project someday or donate them to their school for use in a school project. During this experience, I also read about the great need for recycling cardboard paper in toilet paper rolls, paper towels, etc. This whole experience made me come up with my proposed project. I realized how simple recycling these items can be. My own 7-year-old daughter had no problem doing it! I also realized that most people, including myself (who I always thought of as a good recycler), don't think to do this. We think of cans and newspaper and magazines but these items are frequently overlooked.
Tell us about the social innovator behind this idea.
400 words or fewer
How did you first hear about Changemakers?
Through another organization or company
If through another, please provide the name of the organization or company
The emailed newsletter of Green Mountain Coffee
