The community of Fairbanks, AK decided they would end homelessness, one recyclable item at a time. AmeriCorps working in conjunction with The Fairbanks Rescue Mission opened a recycling center to provide job training and skill building for the community's homeless. This not only promotes environmental stewardship and awareness, but economic growth for disadvantaged individuals and a greater understanding about homelessness throughout the Fairbanks community. Through awareness and understanding, compassion can grow for the individuals that find themselves without a home.

This photo is a close up of a bale of flatten plastic bottles (each bale weighs up to half a ton) that will be shipped to a reclaiming facility, where the process for making new plastic bottles and other products such as clothing, construction materials, and containers will occur.