A new donation program at Reagan National Airport provides local charities with unopened and gently used toiletries that would otherwise be thrown away.
Since April, the Donate Don’t Discard initiative has collected 2,913 items that did not meet TSA restrictions and would have otherwise ended up in the landfill. Instead, products like toothpaste, lotion, hair gel and sunscreen are now going to charities in the Washington area, which distribute the products to the homeless, victims of domestic violence and others who have basic needs.
“The goals are, first, to meet our sustainability goals and sustainable practices; second, to give back to the community; and third, to encourage our passengers who may be a little frustrated,” Courtnie Gore, social impact specialist at the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, told ARLnow. “They’ve lost something very valuable… but they’re not throwing it away.”
A total of 1,380 pounds of produce went to Bethany House Northern Virginia and Northwest Community Food in DC
Kristina Filipovich, community coordinator at Northwest Community Food, said the quantity and variety of toiletries has helped her nonprofit provide important services, such as offering sunscreen to homeless people and helping a client stock up on essentials after fleeing domestic violence.
“It means meeting a basic human need for hygiene, but also with the dignity and excitement of a touch of luxury and extravagance,” she said.
Customers were particularly impressed by the high-quality hair products from brands such as Mielle and ECO Style.
“That really excites people,” Filipovich said. “Americans just love their toiletries and beauty products, regardless of their income.”
Today (Tuesday), employees sorted 613 items weighing a total of 220 pounds. However, the largest load came in July, with 900 items weighing 525 pounds.
Gore said she was pleased that the “Donate Don’t Discard” campaign was giving products a second life instead of wasting them.
“We didn’t know it would be this successful,” Gore said. “We’re really happy with it.”
