Goodwill Industries International is concerned about the passage of Car Allowance Rebate System legislation (C.A.R.S.) that would provide vouchers of up to $4,500 to consumers that trade in their old vehicles for more fuel efficient vehicles, while mandating the destruction of their old vehicles.
The sale of gently-used goods by nonprofits such as Goodwill not only funds critical human services programs, but protects the environment by preventing these items from being prematurely disposed of in our nation’s landfills. In 2008, 90 local Goodwill agencies across the United States reported nearly $14.5 million in combined revenue resulting from vehicle donations; approximately 85 percent was used to supplement government investments in job training and employment services for people with barriers to employment.
While intended to reduce vehicle emissions and stimulate auto sales, requiring trade-ins to be “crushed or shredded,” would create unintended consequences for charitable giving programs. Goodwill commends efforts to reduce emissions and increase fuel efficiency, and believes that such efforts should not be at the expense of efforts that help people gain and maintain employment and actively contribute to the social and economic welfare of their communities.
June 26th, 2009
In a June 15 letter to the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Goodwill Industries International addressed the urgency of establishing a mechanism for complying with the Consumer Product Safety Information Act (CPSIA). The letter recommends that the committee recognize this urgency as it considers U.S. President Barack Obama’s nomination of Inez Moore Tenenbaum as Chair of the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC).
“Without a mechanism for identifying specific products that pose a threat to our customers’ children, the only way that our store operators can be 100 percent sure that none of our children’s products exceed CPSIA’s new lead limits, is to dispose of all children’s products as banned hazardous substances,” the letter explains, adding that discarding children’s products would be devastating for Goodwill Industries® and the populations it serves.
The Donated Goods Coalition submitted CPSIA-related questions for the committee to pose during the June 16 Tenenbaum confirmation hearing. The letter also recommends the committee queries her about her recommendations for CPSIA revisions and her intentions to work with nonprofit resellers on future CPSC initiatives. During the hearing, Tennenbaum noted that nonprofit thrift concerns regarding CPSIA need to be addressed quickly.
June 18th, 2009
Urge your Members of Congress to support a commonsense solution to a problem created by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) (P.L. 110-314). Goodwill’s simple solution will protect Goodwill shoppers’ children from exposure to dangerous lead levels, while allowing Goodwill stores to continue supporting their mission services by selling donated goods, such as children’s clothing.
A Commonsense Solution
Goodwill Industries International is asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue guidance that would identify products or product attributes known to exceed the CPSIA’s new lead limits for children’s clothing. Just as Goodwill retail operators use product recalls, such guidance would establish a mechanism for resellers to demonstrate good faith and due diligence in finding and preventing noncompliant products from being sold in their stores. We believe this simple solution will protect our shoppers’ children from exposure to dangerous lead levels, while allowing Goodwill stores to continue supporting their mission services by selling donated goods, such as children’s clothing.
Read more and learn how you can support a simple solution for the resale of children’s clothing.
January 28th, 2009
The Donated Goods Coalition is urging the CPSC to work with us in a good-faith partnership to adopt common sense solutions that demonstrate our commitment to the safety of the families and children we serve while ensuring that community-based organizations are able to continue to provide critical services to people who need them the most.
January 21st, 2009