Kicking Breast Cancer to the Curb

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Every year, individuals and organizations go pink to show their support and raise awareness for breast cancer. By “going pink” we honor breast cancer survivors, remember those we have lost, and support the progress being made to defeat breast cancer. In addition to supporting research to cure breast cancer, raising awareness encourages individuals to schedule their screening. Early detection can make the disease easier to treat.

According to the American Cancer Society in 2017 it was estimated there would be 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer, 63,410 new cases of breast carcinoma in situ and an estimated 40,610 deaths caused by breast cancer. As of January 1, 2016, there were more than 3.5 million women living in America with a history of breast cancer.

Treatment is most effective when discovered early through regular screenings, which makes public reminders to schedule screenings so important. The good news? While there is still much work to be done, breast cancer death rates have decreased 39% since 1989.

The Waste Industry Goes Pink

As October comes to a close, we want to highlight a few of the waste service providers who are raising awareness for breast cancer and helping fund research for a cure this month and all year long.

Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of Solid Waste Management

Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM) Pink Trucks for Breast Cancer Awareness

Three new pink trucks are being deployed by Miami-Dade County, Florida Department of Solid Waste Management (DSWM). The new pink trucks, branded with the message “Let’s Trash Cancer,” are part of DSWM’s initiative to support and spread year-round breast cancer awareness.

Borden Waste-Away Group

Borden Waste-Away delivers check to Goshen Health Foundation

Borden Waste-Away pioneered a program in 2011 called the “Trash Cancer Matching Fund.” Customers were given the option to add $1.00 to their monthly bill as a donation for cancer research. Those donations are matched dollar for dollar by Borden. This year, Borden delivered a check for $19,346 to Goshen Health Foundation, bringing their 7 year total to $160,800.

Ingrum Waste Disposal – Wearing Pink for Breast Cancer Awareness

Cascade Cart Solutions – The Pink Cart

The Pink Cart - Breast Cancer Awareness Month - Waste and Recycling Workers Week

Cascade Cart Solutions manufactures The Pink Cart for haulers, municipalities, and distributors across North America. Five dollars of every purchase goes towards American & Canadian Cancer Societies’ efforts to end breast cancer. Pink Carts has raised over $600,000 for American Cancer Society Making Strides Against Breast Cancer.

WCA – Pink Trucks and “Pink Shirt Fridays” year round

WCA - Pink Dumpster Truck - Breast Cancer Awareness - Waste and Recycling Workers Week

WCA has painted a variety of their trucks, roll-off containers, and commercial dumpsters pink. They have an ongoing program called “Pink Shirt Fridays” where they donate $4 to breast cancer research at MD Anderson for each employee who wears a pink shirt to work on the last Friday of every month. To date, WCA has raised over $78,000 for Breast Cancer Research.

Arwood Waste and Partners Nationwide

Breast Cancer Awareness - Arwood Waste - Waste and Recycling Workers Week

Even though Breast Cancer Awareness Month is coming to an end, our work is far from over. From funding research, to reminding those we love to get screened, to scheduling our own appointments to get checked, everyone has an important part to play in battling breast cancer every day of the year.

We want to thank all of the many commercial and municipal waste service providers for their support and fundraising efforts to find a cure for breast cancer.

Waste and Recycling Workers Week and our friends in the waste management industry care about you so make your plan today. Tell your friends and GET SCREENED!