Environmental Impact

We care as much about our environmental foot print as we do for serving our fellow nonprofits. Recycling, energy conservation and water conservation play a critical role in our warehouse operations, helping us put more tools in the hands of volunteers. We’ve taken reduce, reuse, recycle to the next level by utilizing discarded wood and metal to make tool storage racking and large-capacity bins for recycling cardboard, plastic, paper and electronics.

Recycling

Through generous support from Novelis, our inventory of Clear Stream recycling containers has increased two-fold. To promote awareness and inspire increased recycling among our member agencies, we are waiving the tool handling fee for a recycling container when an active member agency brings a bag of empty and clean aluminum cans to CHaRM Recycling Center.

Warehouse Energy & Water Conservation

We have made great strides in reducing our energy and water usage, initiating conservation best practices and outfitting our warehouse with cost-efficient installations. In early 2016, daylighting skylights were installed, funded through the Grants to Green program, a cool roof installation and LED Lighting. In addition, water-conserving sinks and bathroom fixtures were installed, helping us reduce our usage, making water more available to the Atlanta community.

We have been a Top Performer for the last four years in the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge, including receiving the 2016 MVP Award.

2019 Stats

$836,825

Worth of Tools

Used by 82

Member Agencies

To equip 17,854

Volunteers

$25,104

Actual Cost to Agencies

Trees Atlanta

Interesting Fact: In 2019, Trees Atlanta borrowed 280 ToolBank shovels to plant over 500 trees within 3 hours during their annual Plantlanta event.

South Fork Conservancy

Interesting Fact: South Fork Conservancy likes to use the ToolBank’s long handled cultivators to help remove trash from the banks of Peachtree Creek.