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 all the difference in a patient’s prognosis.
According to the American Cancer Society in 2019, it was estimated there would be 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer, 48,100 new cases of breast carcinoma in situ and an estimated 41,760 deaths caused by breast cancer. As of January 2019, there were more than 3.8 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
October has come and gone and 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.
Borden Waste-Away Group
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. In 2019, Borden delivered a check for $19,890 to Goshen Health Foundation, bringing their 8 year total to $180,730.68.
“Borden extends its gratitude to those who participate in our Pink Cart and Trash Cancer Matching Fund Programs and to our friends at the Goshen Center for Cancer Care who provide such excellent and valuable care,” stated representatives of Borden Waste-Away.
Dick’s Sanitation, Lakeville, Minnesota
Dick’s Sanitation (DSI) offers customers two opportunities to show support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dick’s Sanitation is participating in the Pink Cart program. For every cart purchased, DSI will donate $5 to a local American Cancer Society Chapter. DSI is also collecting donations for the Angel Foundation, a Twin Cities-based nonprofit, which provides financial assistance and support to local families living with cancer. DSI matches customer donations up to $12 per customer per year.
Rumpke Waste & Recycling, Cincinnati, Ohio
Rumpke Headquarters paid tribute to Breast Cancer Awareness by donning pink attire. The Cincinnati based office also divided into north and south sections, competing to see which side could bring the largest donation to the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Waste Management, Houston, Texas
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Waste Management (WM) went beyond pink carts and trucks by issuing an important message to its employees regarding the disease. Written by Carole Grimard, WM’s health promotions manager, the note discusses employee health statistics related to breast cancer; promotes screening, awareness and a healthy lifestyle; and provides resources for more information.
Bay Disposal & Recycling, Norfolk, Virginia
Bay Disposal and Recycling supports Susan G. Komen Tidewater in spreading awareness about breast cancer by participating in a popular tradition among many waste collection companies. Bay Disposal and Recycling painted some of its trucks and containers pink to help get the word out to residents.
Cascade Cart Solutions – The Pink Cart
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.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Even though Breast Cancer Awareness Month has ended, 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.