In 1991, Community Living Peterborough reached out to Fleming College with this question; how can we fulfill a need, and highlight the skills and commitment of the people we support, in such a way that they can be better connected to, and engaged in members of the Fleming community? The goal was to deepen the level of relationships and participation for people with disabilities, and to make an important contribution at the same time.

Community Living Peterborough proposed the idea of creating a volunteer recycling program where people they support could acquire new skills, meet new people and feel more connected to their community. In exchange for volunteering their time to this environmental initiative, they would have access to college resources and other priviledges of college and Fleming welcomed the proposal and thus the recycling project now known as 'Blueboxing' was born.

By 2007, Blueboxing was ready to expand its influence beyond the Fleming community and had an eager volunteer base to work with. The program was very positively received by the Trent University Environmental Advisory Board and a successful pilot project surfaced at the University. With funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, a sustainable program at both Fleming and Trent resulted. Blueboxing now has volunteers working alongside students at both of Peterborough's Post Secondary Schools.

The program is ever-evolving, as are people's thoughts around recycling and around disability. People who volunteer with Blueboxing are very proud to be environmental leaders of their community, are well respected for the contribution they make and are very happy to be part of the Fleming College and Trent University communities.   

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