This is part one of a three-part series on Transforming Your Waste Stream into a Recycling Stream.
America Recycles Day is November 15th — the perfect day for your company to pledge to start or enhance a business recycling program.
In today’s green economy the goal for the business waste stream should be zero waste. To get there, businesses are increasingly diving into their waste stream to really understand what it is comprised of and how they can properly, and successfully, reduce, reuse and recycle it.
“In 2008, Americans generated about 250 million tons of trash,“ according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. “Waste from commercial and institutional locations, such as schools, hospitals, and businesses, amounted to 35 to 45 percent of total waste generation.” On the path toward zero waste, recycling still plays an important part of the “three R’s” equation.
For years recycling programs have focused on reducing residential waste. Now it is time for businesses to focus on their recycling efforts as well. If your business does not have a recycling program, it is time to start. If you have one, it is time to re-evaluate and enhance it. In either case, begin with the basic building-block materials of recycling…
Aluminum, glass, paper, plastic and steel are the crux of most recycling programs. Collectively, these materials are known as the “big five” in the recycling industry as they comprise more than half of the municipal (combined residential and commercial) solid waste stream. They also are easily collected and recycled through most established recycling programs in the United States.
Recycling saves energy, resources and landfill space as well as reduces the environmental impacts caused when creating new material from virgin resources. The big five commodities are prime candidates for helping businesses reduce waste and improve sustainability because aluminum, steel and glass can be recycled infinitely; paper, which is so prevalent in the workplace, can be recycled from its highest-quality form seven times before fibers are too short to recycle further; and virgin plastic is made from non-renewable petroleum resources.
“It is important for businesses to participate in sustainable solutions, and recycling is often the easiest and one of the most powerful ways to start,” says Scott Mouw, Environmental Supervisor for the North Carolina Division of Pollution Prevention and Environmental Assistance. “By feeding valuable materials back into the economy, they help other companies grow and create jobs, helping expand our economy and feeding manufacturers who rely on recycled materials to make the products we use every day.”
Six Reasons Businesses Should Recycle the Big Five
The environmental impacts of a carefully formulated solid waste management plan can do more for the environment, and your business, than you might think. There are multiple beneficial and compelling reasons to recycle the big five—in general and at work.
1. Lower Cost for Waste Removal – Reducing your waste stream through recycling can lead to lower waste removal costs. Recycling services may still cost; however, rates can be negotiated to equal or better than waste removal costs alone.
“Many businesses that start comprehensive recycling programs also find that they can avoid waste collection and disposal costs that can only be expected to rise over time,” Mouw adds.
2. Income – When markets are good—especially for paper and old corrugated cardboard—recycling contracts can be negotiated with your recycling service provider to create income for your business as well.
3. Tax Credits – Twenty-five states offer tax credits for recycling market development. This means that if you work for a recycling industry or manufacturing business that uses recycled materials, you may qualify.
4. Recognition– Many communities and trade associations have recognition and awards programs for companies that recycle. Waste Wi$e, and the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) Paper Recycling Awards are good places to start.
5. Corporate Social Responsibility: Recycling is a long-term sustainability investment with triple-bottom-line rewards. Aside from the environmental ones, benefits also include improved public image, reaching new markets and improved employee morale.
6. Creates Green Jobs – In today’s economic climate, this speaks volumes. The EPA Jobs Through Recycling program estimates that recycling creates almost five times as many jobs as landfilling. That is 103,000 jobs in the northeastern United States alone, according to the EPA. Jobs created through recycling include collection and hauling, brokering of recovered materials and processing as well as the manufacturing and distribution of the new recycled-content products.
Tomorrow in Part 2, a look at common challenges encountered with business recycling programs.
More from GreenNurture
- How to Start a Business Recycling Program
- 4 Barriers to Business Recycling
- The Heart of Change – Making Change Last
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