Announcements
Go Green Ohio managed by Erek Hansen and Kimi Floyd is once again an approved collection site for DENIM on behalf of Blue Jeans Go Green.® 2020. The collected denim is shredded into cotton fibers and re-manufactured into housing insulation to benefit communities affected by natural disasters. In the past, the denim insulation has gone to Habitat for Humanity to help communities devastated by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region, and Hurricane Sandy. For more information about this process, go to www.BlueJeansGoGreen.org
With your help, we can keep these textiles out of our Northwest Ohio Landfills!
Thank you!
Go Green Ohio managed by Erek Hansen and Kimi Floyd is once again an approved collection site for DENIM on behalf of Blue Jeans Go Green.® 2020. The collected denim is shredded into cotton fibers and re-manufactured into housing insulation to benefit communities affected by natural disasters. In the past, the denim insulation has gone to Habitat for Humanity to help communities devastated by natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region, and Hurricane Sandy. For more information about this process, go to www.BlueJeansGoGreen.org
With your help, we can keep these textiles out of our Northwest Ohio Landfills!
Thank you!
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2019- Erek held the first denim drive ever at the University of Cincinnati over Earth Day (April) in a partnership with Blue Jean Go Green's College Program and UC's Engineers without Borders. We collected 670 pairs of jeans and hope to continue working together in the future!
Articles 2019:
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2018 - Hiatus year. Erek graduated from Clay High School and now attends The University of Cincinnati studying chemical engineering. Kimi Floyd expressed interest in taking on the project while Erek is at school. Denim drives to resume in 2019.
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2017 - 9th annual Denim Drive project. Sixth year to recycle unwanted Shoes in ANY condition. Renewed partnerships with Blue Jeans Go Green® (previously Cotton. From Blue to Green.) and USAgain. Drives begin on or around Earth Day in April and continue throughout the summer months. Drop boxes remain until Labor Day.
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2016 - 8th annual Denim Drive project. Fifth year to recycle unwanted Shoes in ANY condition. Renewed partnerships with Blue Jeans Go Green® (previously Cotton. From Blue to Green.) and USAgain. Drives begin on or around Earth Day in April and continue throughout the summer months.
Reminder - new project name and identity in 2015. Please look for Go Green Ohio when seeking your denim and shoe recycling locations. |
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2015 - 7th annual Denim Drive project. Fourth year to recycle unwanted SHOES in ANY condition. Renewed partnerships with Blue Jeans Go Green (previously Cotton. From Blue to Green.) and USAgain.
Most noticeably, a new project name and identity in 2015. The project was renamed Go Green Ohio by Erek to allow the project to continue after he makes plans to attend college in 2018. National EPA Award in July 2015. |
2014 - 6th annual Denim Drive project. Third year to recycle unwanted Shoes in ANY condition. Renewed partnerships with Blue Jeans Go Green® (previously Cotton. From Blue to Green.) and USAgain. Drives begin on or around Earth Day in April and continue throughout the summer months.
In 2014, Blue Jeans Go Green requested to do a video documentary on Erek and his recycling project. It was quite an honor to be asked and Erek had an extraordinary experience with the Blue Jeans Go Green® team. The final result was the video seen at the following link (under prior EcoErek name), http://www.bluejeansgogreen.org/In-The-News/
Another opportunity to spread recycling awareness was presented to Erek by the One Year Road Trip documentary project. The Webb family from Pasadena, California left their home in September 2014 and set out across America to create a video documentary on youth change-makers from each state. Erek was chosen for the state of Ohio. The Webb's visited our family on a cool, crisp October day as Erek shared the denim and recycling project details with them. Safe travels to Matt, Eva, Jack, Solveig and Evie.
Articles 2014:
- Erek visits with The Webb family on their One Year Road Trip from Pasedena, CA on Oct. 12, 2014
- Erek is named "Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy" by the Northwest Ohio Association of Fundraising Professionals on November 13, 2014.
- Erek is named "Student of the Year" by Keep Ohio Beautiful, July 2014
-Erek is given the "Individual Youth Recognition Award" by Keep America Beautiful, January 2015
In 2014, Blue Jeans Go Green requested to do a video documentary on Erek and his recycling project. It was quite an honor to be asked and Erek had an extraordinary experience with the Blue Jeans Go Green® team. The final result was the video seen at the following link (under prior EcoErek name), http://www.bluejeansgogreen.org/In-The-News/
Another opportunity to spread recycling awareness was presented to Erek by the One Year Road Trip documentary project. The Webb family from Pasadena, California left their home in September 2014 and set out across America to create a video documentary on youth change-makers from each state. Erek was chosen for the state of Ohio. The Webb's visited our family on a cool, crisp October day as Erek shared the denim and recycling project details with them. Safe travels to Matt, Eva, Jack, Solveig and Evie.
Articles 2014:
- Erek visits with The Webb family on their One Year Road Trip from Pasedena, CA on Oct. 12, 2014
- Erek is named "Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy" by the Northwest Ohio Association of Fundraising Professionals on November 13, 2014.
- Erek is named "Student of the Year" by Keep Ohio Beautiful, July 2014
-Erek is given the "Individual Youth Recognition Award" by Keep America Beautiful, January 2015
2013 - 5th annual Denim Drive project. Third year to recycle unwanted Shoes in ANY condition. Renewed partnerships with Blue Jeans Go Green® (new name) and USAgain.
Articles 2013:
-”The Sustainable Spot” article, Jan 2013.
-EcoErek featured in People magazine article on People.com, April 2013.
-EcoErek selected as Finalist on Gloria Barron prize for Young Heroes, Sep 2013.
-EcoErek delivers shoes to USAgain, Dec 2013.
-Annual Newsletter 2013
Articles 2013:
-”The Sustainable Spot” article, Jan 2013.
-EcoErek featured in People magazine article on People.com, April 2013.
-EcoErek selected as Finalist on Gloria Barron prize for Young Heroes, Sep 2013.
-EcoErek delivers shoes to USAgain, Dec 2013.
-Annual Newsletter 2013
2012 - 4th annual Denim Drive project. Second year to recycle unwanted Shoes in ANY condition. Renewed partnerships with Cotton. From Blue to Green.® and USAgain.
Articles 2012:
-The Suburban Press, March 2012. Erek wins Judge’s Award at Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce Prism Awards banquet.
-EcoErek wins Honorable Mention in Action For Nature’s “Eco-Hero Award”.
-”The Press” article, May 2012, “EcoErek reaches milestone...”
-EcoErek’s video for BGSU’s Camp Millionaire and Guinness World Record shoe drive, Oct 2012.
-”BG News” article, Nov 2012.
-EcoErek delivers shoes to USAgain, ABC7 Chicago coverage, Nov 2012.
-ABC7 Chicago coverage, Nov. 2012
-WGN 720 Radio with Jonathon Brandmeier and EcoErek, Nov 2012.
-”The Sustainable Spot” article, Jan 2013.
-Annual Newsletter 2012
Articles 2012:
-The Suburban Press, March 2012. Erek wins Judge’s Award at Eastern Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce Prism Awards banquet.
-EcoErek wins Honorable Mention in Action For Nature’s “Eco-Hero Award”.
-”The Press” article, May 2012, “EcoErek reaches milestone...”
-EcoErek’s video for BGSU’s Camp Millionaire and Guinness World Record shoe drive, Oct 2012.
-”BG News” article, Nov 2012.
-EcoErek delivers shoes to USAgain, ABC7 Chicago coverage, Nov 2012.
-ABC7 Chicago coverage, Nov. 2012
-WGN 720 Radio with Jonathon Brandmeier and EcoErek, Nov 2012.
-”The Sustainable Spot” article, Jan 2013.
-Annual Newsletter 2012
2011 - 3rd annual Denim Drive project. New in 2011 - recycle unwanted Shoes in ANY condition. Held 3 drives over 2 months, coordinated DROP BOXES at new businesses to collect on our behalf. The 2011 Collection is 3,811 pr. of jeans and 2,916 pr. of shoes! This converts to 8,400 lbs. of cotton or an equivalent of approx. 12,700 sq./ft. of insulation, enough to insulate over 7 homes! The denim filled 15 Gaylord crates and the shoes filled 18 Gaylord crates.
Erek was honored in October at the “Green Gala” hosted by the Ohio Environmental Council in Columbus. He received an Environmental Achievement Award for his active participation in reducing landfill waste by holding recycling drives in Ohio.
Articles 2011:
-Letter from Cotton Incorporated.
-Erek featured in “The Huffington Post” article by CEO of USAgain, stating that “age is no bar to join the recycling club”.
-The Suburban Press, May 13, 2011 article on 2011 EcoDrive.
-Fox36 Talk Back with Erek Hansen, May 30, 2011.
-Channel 11 CBS (Toledo) Your Saturday Morning, June 4, 2011.
-Channel 11 CBS (Toledo) EcoErek receives shoes and clothing for recyling from BGSU, June 6.
-13abc (Toledo) LIVE coverage of Recycling Drive on June 11.
-The Toledo Free Press, June 23rd, 2011, article.
-Erek is mentioned in “The Huffington Post” article October 27, 2011, America Recycles Day: Get Involved, by CEO of USAgain, stating “I’m thrilled to see young people...taking initiative...to raise awareness about environmental causes.”
-Amateur video coverage of Erek’s acceptance speech, Oct. 22, 2011, Green Gala, Columbus, OH.
-Newsletter2011
2010 - 2nd annual denim collection project. Held 5 denim drives over 3 months, coordinated many company and school denim drives to save landfill space and ultimately benefit victims of U.S. natural disasters. We lauched on Earth Day, April 22nd and finished with a collection of 4,154 pcs. of denim for 2010! This converts to 9,100 lbs. of cotton or an equivalent of approx. 13,800 sq./ ft. of insulation, enough to insulate just over 8 homes!
We incorporated DROP BOXES at local businesses this year, which allowed people to come whenever they could to deliver their old jeans. It worked very well! As we spread the word about the usefulness of coton denim fibers remanufactured as housing insulation, many more will recycle in this way.
Articles 2010:
-Erek on Star 105.5 morning radio show launching denim drive 2010 on Earth Day.
-The Suburban Press, April 15, 2010 article on 2010 denim drive.
-Channel 11 CBS (Toledo) coverage of Owens Comunity College denim drive, April 28, 2010.
-Channel 11 CBS (Toledo) Your Saturday Morning, June 5, 2010.
-Newsletter2010
We incorporated DROP BOXES at local businesses this year, which allowed people to come whenever they could to deliver their old jeans. It worked very well! As we spread the word about the usefulness of coton denim fibers remanufactured as housing insulation, many more will recycle in this way.
Articles 2010:
-Erek on Star 105.5 morning radio show launching denim drive 2010 on Earth Day.
-The Suburban Press, April 15, 2010 article on 2010 denim drive.
-Channel 11 CBS (Toledo) coverage of Owens Comunity College denim drive, April 28, 2010.
-Channel 11 CBS (Toledo) Your Saturday Morning, June 5, 2010.
-Newsletter2010
2009 - I read an article in my favorite magazine, National Geographic Kids, that asked readers to send in their old, holey, ripped up jeans, that otherwise would have been thrown away, in order to help comunities in need AND help set a Guinness World Record (GWR). The jeans would be sent to Cotton. From Blue to Green. which is an organization that sees those jeans remanufactured into housing insulation. This organization then arranges for all the insulation to be donated 100% back to victims of natural disasters. In the past, the donations have gone to Habitat for Humanity to help communities devistated by Huricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast region. It takes approx. 500 prs. of denim jeans to insulate ONE avg. size U.S. home. For more information on what happens to the denim, you can always look at the process more in depth at www.cottonfrombluetogreen.org and www.bondedlogic.com.
In response to the article, I asked my mom if I could send in my old, holey jeans, and she said, “Sure!” We then held a Denim Drive in our Driveway event that brought in 1000 pairs of jeans. A local alternative energy company heard about our project and had an employee drive that raised an additional 600 pair! We shipped 1684 pcs. of denim (enough for just over 3 homes) to National Geographic in Washington DC where they became a part of the “Largest Collection of Clothing to Recycle”. I got to keep clothes out of the local landfill, help people in need AND helped set a Guinnes World Record. I was awarded a ticket to the ceremony in Wash DC because I was the single largest donor to the project. I LOVE to recycle and this project had a great cause! It was SO much fun!
Articles 2009:
-Erek is in the March 2010 issue of National Geographic Kids.
-2009 Fox 36 (Toledo) coverage of Guinness Ceremony August 2009.
-Stuart Claxton’s Blog from GWR.
-Video of Erek and Stuart with Guinn. World Record.
-Washington Post August 14-16, 2009.
-NatGeoKids magazine Green Scene Blog with time-lapse video of display contruction.
-Toledo Blade article June 13, 2009, Denim Drive.
-Toledo Blade article July 22, 2009, Going to Washington DC.
-2009 Channel 13 ABC (Toledo) coverage of denim drive June 2009.
In response to the article, I asked my mom if I could send in my old, holey jeans, and she said, “Sure!” We then held a Denim Drive in our Driveway event that brought in 1000 pairs of jeans. A local alternative energy company heard about our project and had an employee drive that raised an additional 600 pair! We shipped 1684 pcs. of denim (enough for just over 3 homes) to National Geographic in Washington DC where they became a part of the “Largest Collection of Clothing to Recycle”. I got to keep clothes out of the local landfill, help people in need AND helped set a Guinnes World Record. I was awarded a ticket to the ceremony in Wash DC because I was the single largest donor to the project. I LOVE to recycle and this project had a great cause! It was SO much fun!
Articles 2009:
-Erek is in the March 2010 issue of National Geographic Kids.
-2009 Fox 36 (Toledo) coverage of Guinness Ceremony August 2009.
-Stuart Claxton’s Blog from GWR.
-Video of Erek and Stuart with Guinn. World Record.
-Washington Post August 14-16, 2009.
-NatGeoKids magazine Green Scene Blog with time-lapse video of display contruction.
-Toledo Blade article June 13, 2009, Denim Drive.
-Toledo Blade article July 22, 2009, Going to Washington DC.
-2009 Channel 13 ABC (Toledo) coverage of denim drive June 2009.