Notables in reuse and recycling

Movers & Makers reached out this month to organizations working within the recycling and reuse space, asking them to help us showcase their notables, part of M&M’s continuing effort to recognize individuals making a difference within Greater Cincinnati’s nonprofit ecosystem.

Peg Fischer helps find new uses for old computers 

Former teacher and principal Peg Fischer helped found Cincinnati Computer Reuse (CCR, originally Cincinnati Computer Cooperative) when Crayons to Computers spun off its computer refurbishing program. CCR’s mission is to provide discounted, refurbished computers to low- and moderate-income individuals and nonprofits and to recycle anything that can’t be refurbished. Since it opened in 2002, CCR has sold 15,000-plus computers, some for as little as $25, to bridge the digital equity divide. The organization has also sent more than 2,500 tons of electronics for recycling. Fischer is CCR’s board secretary, and you can often find her friendly face in CCR’s office, processing sales or helping with administrative tasks. When she’s not at CCR, she enjoys cooking and sewing, especially quilting. She is also an active Citizens’ Climate Lobby volunteer. She also cherishes time with her grandchildren, and their “adventures with Gigi” include visits to museums, culinary projects and audiobooks. 

James Magee leads Goodwill’s commitment to sustainability 

James Magee, sustainability senior manager at Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries, leads its commitment by diverting textiles and more from landfills. Under his leadership, the organization achieved 73.4% of its zero-waste goal in 2024 through recycling textiles, metal, e-waste, paper, cardboard and other materials. Magee works with OVGI partners across the country and the globe. He’s forged partnerships that promote recycling and up-cycling, with an ambitious goal of helping OVGI reach 85% zero waste in 2025. A lifelong Queen City resident, Magee is passionate about the Reds, the Bengals and the Bearcats. His greatest joy is fatherhood, serving as a role model to his sons, James Jr. and Kolten, with whom he enjoys visiting the Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden, Cincinnati Art Museum, Kings Island (their favorite spot) and Factory 52. He began with Goodwill at age 19 and is married to his high school sweetheart, who also works at Goodwill.

Stephanie Bacher keeps electronics, holiday lights out of landfills 

Stephanie Bacher oversees all recycling and landfill diversion efforts for Great Parks, advancing its role as a conservation leader. She keeps e-waste, including electronics and holiday lights, out of landfills to prevent toxic materials from entering soil and groundwater, while also diverting food scraps and plastic film. Three electronic-waste recycling events hosted in 2024 at Miami Whitewater Forest, Winton Woods and Woodland Mound collected more than 1,000 carloads of electronics recyclables, while the annual holiday lights recycling events have diverted over 40 tons of lights from the landfill. In her free time, Bacher enjoys the benefits of being a cat mom and experiencing live music with her husband. She enjoys word searches while traveling and has completed many word-search books since she was young. 

At Dress for Success, Cali Herzog connects women with clothing 

Cali Herzog, inventory coordinator at Dress for Success Cincinnati, plays a vital role in ensuring that every donated piece of clothing finds a meaningful purpose. With a passion for sustainability and the mission to empower women, Herzog carefully sorts, organizes and redistributes clothing to best serve clients and programs. She ensures that high-quality professional attire is available for women preparing for job interviews and new careers while helping manage resale efforts through Portaluca Boutique. By maximizing the life cycle of each garment, Herzog helps keep clothing out of landfills. Herzog’s dedication helps Dress for Success Cincinnati lift up women while promoting eco-conscious practices, making a lasting impact on both the community and the environment. She enjoys spending time with her husband and four grown children, traveling and hiking. 

Lynn Meiners leads recycling program for New Life Furniture Bank

Lynn Meiners has been volunteering at New Life Furniture Bank’s Thrift Store since 2022 and has amassed over 3,350 hours of service. She is a passionate environmental advocate who started and now oversees a robust recycling program at the Thrift Store to help keep unsellable donations out of the landfill. Cardboard, metal, plastic and paper are among the things kept out of the trash. In 2023, Meiners collected over $5,000 by selling scrap metal and other items. She has brought other volunteers onboard to increase awareness and participation in recycling efforts. Her efforts last year were instrumental in obtaining an EPA grant to purchase an electric van. Meiners enjoys traveling, gardening and spending time with her husband and grandchildren. She and her husband have a garden railroad in their backyard that was used in a Visa commercial in the early ’90s. 

Lauren Roberts gives prisoners skills by diverting scraps into school supplies

Crayons to Computers’ Crafts with Conviction Program spotlights incarcerated individuals’ abilities while letting them contribute to society and develop practical skills by creating educational tools for distribution in the Teacher Resource Center. Lauren Roberts has led this program since 2019, engaging 14 Ohio correctional facilities. She has grown the number of items produced to more than 80, and has championed innovative partnerships and community collaborations, transforming items destined for the landfill into valuable tools for classrooms. The program distributes more than $750,000 of free materials annually. Fabric and felt remnants become puppets that support emerging literacy and aprons for our littlest learners. Vinyl banners become seatback pockets. Bottle caps turn into moon phases or sorting/counting activities. Even tennis ball tubes find new life. A proud cat mama and budding poet, Roberts is a lover of sunflowers for their adaptability in finding the sun. 

Pharmacist Treston Warren salvages unused medications

Treston Warren is helping reshape the way prescription medications are reused, connecting surplus medications with patients who need them most. As a clinical pharmacist at St. Vincent de Paul’s Charitable Pharmacy, Warren played a pivotal role in launching the pharmacy’s end-user drug donation program, which allows unused medications from individuals to be safely reclaimed and redispensed. That not only extends the life of medicines but also protects the environment. By salvaging meds that would otherwise be discarded, the program helps keep potentially dangerous drugs out of landfills and water supplies while giving neighbors in need access to free prescriptions. Warren’s residency research on this innovative initiative earned the Toby Clark Research Award at the Ohio Pharmacy Resident Conference and is slated for publication in a national medical journal. Outside of work, Warren is a musician and a lifelong language learner, fluent in Spanish and currently studying Japanese, Portuguese and Arabic.

Sheryl Woodhouse leads Building Value in training workers, reclaiming materials

Sheryl Woodhouse celebrated her one-year anniversary as director of Building Value in February. With degrees in sociology and music plus an MBA, she has been dedicated to starting and growing creative, mission-driven businesses. After her first career with the National Park Service, she founded a recycled paper company, an urban forest nonprofit and a rental property business, and has been instrumental in growing others. With  Building Value, Woodhouse’s role is to lead the organization’s business strategy, operations and team while fulfilling its mission of training people for careers in construction. Building Value is preparing for growth in 2025 with the addition of new team members, a new service line, an enhanced, cohort-model construction-training program and their ever-changing retail store of reclaimed building materials in Northside. A builder at heart, Woodhouse loves the art of creating businesses and meaningful jobs for people.

Karen Zengel leads innovation in repurposing at St. Vincent de Paul NKY 

Karen Zengel is entering her eighth year as executive director of St. Vincent de Paul Northern Kentucky, serving as steward of the donations delivered to four thrift store locations. Her passion is seeing the value – and the potential – within every carload of gently used items, repurposing these hand-me-downs into a hand-up for neighbors in need. Zengel leads the ongoing expansion and innovation of SVdP NKY’s outreach, including rent and utility assistance, food pantries, homeless assistance, beds, medical equipment and seasonal programs, as demand continues to rise. She also coordinates a growing team of employees, volunteers and Vincentians, building personal relationships with those called to serve through compassion and kindness. Her enthusiasm in transforming unwanted goods into hope and help personifies St. Vincent de Paul’s enduring message of “building a more just world through personal relationships with and service to people in need.” 

Emmy Schroder of La Soupe focuses on reducing food waste, insecurity 

Emmy Schroder serves as executive director of La Soupe, overseeing the organization’s strategic direction and daily operations to maximize its impact on reducing food waste and combating food insecurity. Before her work with La Soupe, Schroder used her degree in food and agricultural engineering through her work in engineering project management and supply chain for Keurig, Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream and Snowville Creamery. Schroder has focused her career on sustainability and food production, fueled by her passion for great food and building a world where all people have access to the nutrition they need to thrive. Schroder likes to play ultimate frisbee, volleyball and table tennis in her free time. 

Volunteer Steve Gadd helps all around at Scrap2Home

Scrap2Home relies on volunteers. Among the regulars, Steve Gadd is at the top with more than 450 hours of service. Gadd has been with Scrap2Home since its very beginnings and he’s in the woodshop at least once every week. He helps with all aspects of the operation – collecting wood that would have gone to a landfill, processing scrap, building tables and staining. Gadd does it all and helps others learn the process; his patient and warm demeanor make him an invaluable mentor of new volunteers. Gadd also assists his community by tutoring at a local school and serving in Kids Club at Crossroads Church. He also enjoys spending time with his grandchildren on a regular basis. Gadd will tell you he is not retired; rather, he has a new boss whom he serves by helping others. Amazingly, he finds time to play golf regularly.

Jim Wenstrup gives new use to donations at St. Vincent de Paul

As vice president of thrift stores at St. Vincent de Paul, Jim Wenstrup helps give new life to items others no longer need – ensuring they stay in use rather than end up in landfills. In his 14 years with the organization, Wenstrup has led efforts to maximize the reuse of every donation, from clothing to furniture to household goods. What can’t be sold in St. Vincent de Paul’s thrift stores or redistributed to neighbors in need is recycled, including more than 2.2 million pounds of clothing last year alone. Wenstrup takes pride in mentoring others, helping his team grow while advancing the mission of providing food, medicine and housing support to the community. His passion for restoration extends beyond work, whether he’s bringing forgotten items back to life or restoring a 1966 Ford Mustang in his garage. For Wenstrup, every item – like every person – deserves a second chance.