Reliable CRV Recycling for Schools & Events in Los Angeles
1 Plastic Life delivers reliable CRV recycling programs for Los Angeles schools, events, and festivals. We collect post-consumer plastic, educate students on sustainability, and provide job-training opportunities for unhoused individuals. Our nonprofit helps schools reduce plastic waste and meet environmental goals through local, community-centered recycling.
WHO WE ARE
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1 Plastic Life is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and a certified Community Service Recycling Program with CalRecycle, operating as a sustainability-driven Social Enterprise in Los Angeles.
We provide CRV recycling services to schools and events while creating paid job-training opportunities for unhoused and unemployed individuals. Our work reduces plastic pollution, educates students, and delivers measurable environmental and social impact across the community. Today, 1 Plastic Life serves as a trusted CRV recycling provider for schools and events across Los Angeles, offering sustainable waste diversion and job training services recognized by state and county agencies. |
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CRV Recycling for SchoolsA turnkey CRV recycling program for schools.
We provide bins, weekly pickups, impact reports, and optional sustainability education for students. Schools don’t need existing recycling programs — we bring everything needed. |
CRV Recycling for EventsWe provide clear CRV-only signage, end-of-event pickup, and a full sustainability report showing how much your event diverted from landfill.
No onsite sorting required — we handle everything after pickup. |
Job Training & Community ImpactEvery CRV container we collect helps provide paid work and job-training opportunities for unhoused and unemployed individuals in Los Angeles.
Your recycling supports real people rebuilding their lives. |
Our Impact
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Students
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Individuals
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These numbers represent our commitment to sustainability, education, and community impact across Los Angeles.
Trusted by Schools, Events, and Community Partners
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School Recycling ProgramsCertified vendor. Clear signage. Weekly pickups. Real impact.
1 Plastic Life is an approved LAUSD vendor, making it easy for schools to implement a reliable CRV and plastic recycling program. We provide clear signage, collection stations, and weekly or as-needed pickups so schools have a turnkey system that fits their campus. Students are welcome to participate in leadership roles — but participation is optional, ensuring zero added pressure on teachers or staff. We also provide a plug-and-play sustainability curriculum that teachers can use instantly without extra preparation.
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Event Recycling ServicesMake your event sustainable — without the extra work.
We supply events with signage and collection points for CRV and recyclable plastics. After the event ends, we handle all pickup and processing offsite. Events receive a full sustainability report and can be featured on our website to highlight their efforts.
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Job Training & Workforce ImpactYour recycling supports people, not just the planet.
We provide paid job training for unhoused and unemployed individuals, empowering them with hands-on experience in collection, sorting, and machine operation. Trainees also learn to process post-consumer plastics using our industrial & Precious Plastic machines, turning discarded materials into new products that support our programs and reduce waste in Los Angeles.
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Our School Recycling Program
Our school recycling program was highlighted on CBS News, showing how 1 Plastic Life empowers students to lead sustainability efforts on campus — and how the plastic they collect transforms into jobs, skills, and life-changing opportunities for unhoused community members.
Recycling With Purpose
We believe recycling should support people, not just the planet. Through our job training program, we provide paid work and skill-building opportunities to unhoused and unemployed individuals. Participants help collect and process recyclable materials, learn workforce habits, and gain pathways to greater stability.
Every bottle recycled helps create a job, build confidence, and change someone’s life.
Every bottle recycled helps create a job, build confidence, and change someone’s life.
- Paid job opportunities
- On-the-job training (sorting, processing, machine operation)
- Mentorship & support
- Connecting individuals to resources when available
- Real success stories shared in “Stories From the Field”
Stories From the Field
A Ticket HomeThanks to the recycling program at a local school, we were able to offer consistent work to an individual experiencing homelessness. Over time, he opened up and shared that his goal was to save enough money for a train ticket to reunite with his family. Because students collected recyclable material, he earned the income he needed — and finally made his way home.
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A New Chance at RecoveryThrough one of our event recycling partnerships, we met an individual struggling with addiction. As we worked together collecting materials, we built trust and friendship. In time, he shared his situation with us, and we were able to connect him to a rehabilitation program — giving him a new path forward.
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Get a closer look at the people behind our mission — the students, workers, and communities we serve. Each story highlights the real impact of recycling, job training, and community support.