There is a New Dog in Town Start-up

There’s a new dog in town.

Just as it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to raise a business. My name is Shelly and I am the owner of Oreo’s Refining. Everyone has a story and here is part of mine.  I spent 6 ½ years in a wheelchair unable to walk. After many painful surgeries and massive infections, the doctors gave up on me. But I proved them wrong. With determination and brutal hard work, I am walking again.

I have been researching e-waste recyling for over 5 years and graduated in recycling technology from the Missoula College, University of Montana.

My business model is about planet, people and profit, in that order.

http://missoulian.com/news/local/trash-at-um-is-another-s-treasure/article_e26489b0-ec7f-572b-ae02-7e6c861c4a60.html

http://missoulian.com/news/local/waste-storage-at-um-concerns-professor-inspires-new-business/article_477ccd05-7c42-5a7b-9900-f7d5b75f7cb2.html

In phase I, my business will generate revenue by collecting electronic waste, recovering the circuit boards, scrapping non-metallic components and selling the recovered metals locally and out of state. We are fully licensed by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality .

Montana currently ships electronic waste to other states which profit, while Montana loses potential income.  Additionally, some out-of-state companies have illegally transferred Montana e-waste to countries where it was processed by sub-standard techniques, resulting in grave environmental pollution.  Providing in-state recycling keeps both profits in Montana and prevents environmental degradation.

Our goal is to be 100% fossil fuel free within 10 years using renewable energies in our recycling process, which no other e-waste recycling business does, nor are they targeting fossil fuel free processing.

A lot of hard work has gone into developing this bootstrapping business. For example, we are making our own pallet boxes with detachable sides and buying used ones. Most recently, we have turned a treadmill into a magnetic separator. You can see a short demo on our facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/oreosrefining/

We have  important events coming up and need a big success.

Here is what we need:

$1000 to really make a difference in how well we can present ourselves at upcoming events. For the ongoing growth of the company we need a truck, ideally a Dodge Ram 3500 with tow package. Since we are into recycling we would prefer a used truck, no older than  a 2004. That's where the $10,000 comes in.

We are determined to make Oreo’s Refining the destination for all Montana’s e-waste, and, inline with our motto of “Planet, People, Profit”, to give back to communities by donating a portion of our profits to nonprofits and communities in need.

Thanks to everyone that has given me so much support in this beginning and for all of you future supporters.

P.S.  Why the name Oreo’s Refining? Oreo was my service dog for many years. She would pull my wheelchair. She passed away 3 years ago. It devastated my life. Oreo was my person. She taught me about love, compassion and forgiveness. When I researched if I could use the name “Oreo’s Refining” I found this:

“The origin of the name Oreo is unknown, but there are many theories, including derivations from the French word ‘Or’, meaning gold…”

My logo is a photo of my little girl with her head out the window of the car.

https://www.facebook.com/oreosrefining/