About Us
Valley Community for Recycling Solutions (VCRS) is a volunteer-driven organization dedicated to making the Mat-Su Borough a model zero-landfill community. We provide recycling opportunities and educational programs for all ages, emphasizing the importance of proper recycling.
VCRS currently accepts 12 types of materials: mixed paper; office paper; shredded office paper; newspaper; corrugated cardboard; steel cans; aluminum cans; kitchen aluminum; plastic PET #1 bottles; HDPE # 2 jugs; polyethylene bags and film; and PP #5 containers. There are plans to implement glass recycling in the future as a response to the community's needs. We also collaborate with local businesses to repurpose recycled materials into products like insulation and hydroseed, further supporting the Alaskan economy.
Our success is fueled by a strong sense of community, with volunteers of all backgrounds playing a vital role in our mission. Our efforts in recycling education and training develops passionate and dedicated individuals, strengthening both us and the communities we service in turn.
How Pick.Click.Give. makes a difference
Donations from Pick.Click.Give. (PCG) help support and expand our programs, allowing us to share our knowledge with other Alaskan communities and promote local economic development through recycling. These efforts not only benefit the Mat-Su Valley but the entire state by diverting resources from landfills and creating new products and jobs. As the state's recycling model, we reach a wide audience of Alaskans.
VCRS is committed to sustainability, known for producing high-quality materials that are easy to market and fetch top prices. We also make our resources ready for local manufacturers to use in creating new products. We have expanded recycling services to Talkeetna, Willow, Big Lake, and Sutton through partnerships with local waste transfer sites.
Our recycling center has been developed to model sustainability, designed to meet LEED Gold standards. It features a classroom overlooking the processing floor, allowing visitors to observe recycling in action. Events to engage and educate the public are held here, local students visit regularly for educational field trips, and the space is made available for the community when not otherwise in use. The ReUsed Bookstore moves hundreds of books out of the landfill and into new homes every year. Located near the Mat-Su Borough Central Landfill, our center highlights the importance of reducing waste, as there is no true "away."
Our connection to nature is highlighted with a tree on site identified as a birch modified in the historical tradition of the Athabascan culture. Visitors can also enjoy a nature trail behind our building, which features recycled art pieces created by our staff and volunteers, promoting both environmental appreciation and the impact of landfilling.
