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WASTE RECYCLING INFORMATION
March 2012 

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WASTE RECYCLING TITLES IN THIS MONTHS COLLECTION

Easy Steps to Green Your Office
Asbestos Removal and Disposal
Residential Construction and Green Buildings
Regulations for Facility Management
Energy Star and Small Businesses
Regulation for Underground Storage Tanks
Design for the Environment
Recycling for Construction and Demolition
Lead Safe Certification for Contractors
Facts About Air Duct Contamination
Business-Use Disposal of Mercury-Containing Light Bulbs
College Campus Recycling
Bags: Reusable Versus Disposable
Building Green for Today and Tomorrow
Certification for E-Recyclers
Clean Sweep for Commercial Pesticides
Focus on Food Waste
Considerations for Composting Programs
Importance of Paper Recycling
Small Businesses Can Prevent Waste

Easy Steps to Green Your Office

Posted on March 31, 2012

While many people make an effort to reuse, reduce, and recycle at home they often forget that many of the same practices can be successfully employed at work. Here are some tips to help you “green” your business or workplace:

1.      Use Energy Star to guide your purchasing decisions for appliances, light-bulbs, and other equipment. If you have a refrigerator  or microwave in your break room, don’t just buy the cheapest model! In the long run you can SAVE money on utilities cost by purchasing an affordable Energy Star compliant appliance.

2.      Think about the temperature. Businesses use considerable amounts of electricity for heat and air conditioning, lighting and equipment use. Establish shut down policies for non-essential equipment and set thermostats at a reasonable temperature.

3.      Do a little research! See what other businesses offer employees for environmentally friendly practices. This could be discounted public transportation passes, tele-commuting, ride-sharing, and incentives for reducing energy consumption and costs.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Waste and energy impact every businesses bottom-line. With input from your employees you can come up with ways to go green and save green!

Asbestos Removal and Disposal

Posted on March 30, 2012

If your construction and demolition business is also responsible for the removal of asbestos, strictly adhering to federal and state regulations is essential. Asbestos is considered a toxic substance hazardous to human health and the environment and failure to properly handle and contain this matter can lead to criminal prosecution.

In 2011, two men from the Bay City, Michigan area were sentenced for criminal violations of the Clean Air Act. The men were indicted for knowingly violating federal asbestos laws in the removal of the substance at a former automotive plant. During the job, the men directed workers to tear down the asbestos while it was dry, and to place in plastic bags without wetting it. This handling and removal violated the Clean Air Act’s asbestos regulations which requires handlers to wet the materials before removal and ensure they remain wet. The men were sentenced to a combination of federal prison time, fines, and probation.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Asbestos is a toxic substance and failure to handle properly not only endangers the environment, but your employee’s health as well. Ignoring the regulations can cost you more money (and jail time) than simply following them!

Residential Construction and Green Buildings

Posted on March 29, 2012

Did you know that construction of residential properties accounts for 49% of the total value of building construction in America? If you’re in the business of home construction you’ve seen first-hand the grown desire for “green friendly” practices.

Each year, an increasing number of businesses in the residential construction industry recognize a need to incorporate pollution-preventative and environmentally friendly practices through green building, which is also known as resource-efficient construction, or sustainable design techniques.

Green-built homes reduce the negative affects of traditional building techniques through sustainable building practices. Sustainability is when the needs of people today are met without destroying the resources that will be needed by people in the future.

So what are the characteristics of sustainable homes?

§           conserve natural resources

§           minimize waste products

§           reduce energy use

§           create a healthy environment for the inhabitants

Home construction businesses play a major role in offering homeowners and buyers the opportunity to take an active role in protecting the environment. Pollution prevention helps everyone and leads to more efficient and sustainable communities.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Home buyers want their home to be a reflection of their lifestyle and desires – adopting green building practices to your business can help bring more “green” to your bottom line, too!

Regulations for Facility Management

Posted on March 27, 2012

If your business resides in a building you own or if you’re working in facility management, you want to be aware of environmental compliance resources. The Environmental Protection Agency regulates many aspects of facilities management but also provides programs and resources to help prevent and re-mediate environmental problems. These opportunities can help your operations and management become more environmentally responsible and resource-efficient.The resources available include:

Compliance: These resources will assist in meeting your facility’s Federal and state regulatory obligations.It is important to remember that failure to comply may result in legal and financial actions taken against your business.

Sustainability: These resources will assist you in developing policies and procedures that go beyond regulations and will show your employees, customers, and the general public that you take environmental protection and stewardship seriously.

Common and everyday business practices can affect human health and the environment. Each decision your business makes make regarding waste management, freight transportation, facility management, and product selection can have major impacts. Using the resources that are available to your business can assist you in making better facility management decisions.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Managing your facility in a healthy and environmentally friendly manner can not only help to reduce your carbon-footprint but can also save you money!

Energy Star and Small Businesses

Posted on March 26, 2012

If you own a commercial property for your business, you need lighting, heating, air conditioning, power for office equipment, and other services to stay in business. While most people associate Energy Star with energy efficiency ratings for appliances, less know about the energy assistance they can provide small and medium-sized businesses.

What kind of businesses can Energy Star assist? Auto Dealers, Lodging and Accomodations, Home Based Businesses, Grocery & Convenience Stores, General Office, Healthcare, Restaurants, Rental Property Management, Service & Product Providers, Retail, and Small and Medium Sized Manufacturers. If you’re in business, Energy Star can help you!

Energy Star resources will help you to:

1.          Understand successful energy management

2.          Scale energy management for your business

3.          Locate energy savings

4.          Identify assistance programs and resources to reduce costs

5.          Communicate energy saving practices to customers and employees

What can your business expect from Energy Star?

§           Unbiased information that is free and accurate.

§           Technical support

§           A “How-to” guide for analyzing and upgrading your facility

§           A Building Upgrade Manual

§           Examples of Success Stories

§           Information about ENERGY STAR products

§           Public relations materials to promote your efforts

§           Expert help from Professional Engineers or Service & Product Providers

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If you’re a small business owner, ever dollar counts. Learn how to reduce your energy usage and save money in both the short and long term with Energy Star!

Regulation for Underground Storage Tanks

Posted on March 23, 2012

Whether you’re a commercial property owner or a construction firm, knowing about the regulations for underground storage tanks is essential. Properly maintaining these tanks is necessary as breaches or leaks can threaten human and environmental safety and health as the systems contain hazardous chemicals. Fumes from broken tanks can travel through the ground and infect basements, utility vaults, and parking garages. Once these vapors are released, they can contribute to an explosion, fire, and asphyxiation.

Gasoline leaking from underground storage tanks is one of the most frequent contributors to groundwater pollution and municipal and private wells must be shut down when contaminated by pollutants as the chemical pose a serious health risk.

Cleaning up leaks and breaches is difficult, time-consuming, and expensive, so it’s easier to exercise preventative maintenance if your property contains underground storage tanks. One way to do this is to routinely schedule tightness testing of the complete system. If your testing reveals a leak, you are required to contact your state’s regulatory agency to report it and then begin the process of removing the substance from the underground tank, and assessing damage done to the area.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Underground Storage Tanks contain toxic material that must be disposed of in accordance with federal and state laws. Whether you own a property with tanks or involved with C&D on a site where tanks are located, taking care to maintain the integrity of the tank is essential.

Design for the Environment

Posted on March 22, 2012

The Environmental Protection Agency’s Design for the Environment program assists individuals, businesses, and institutional purchasing agents locate environmentally-friendly cleaning products that are cost-effective, have excellent performance, and safe for the environment.

These special products are identified by the DfE label and can be found through a variety of store-based and online suppliers. A full list of approved manufacturers and their products can be found the the EPS’s Design for the Environment website. There you can find products for all ranges of cleaning needs – from domestic to institutional use.

When you see the DfE label, you can be certain that the ingredients have passed a rigorous EPA review and that every ingredient meets DfE’s stringent criteria. When people use Design for the Environment-labeled products they are protecting their families, colleagues, and customers by making safer chemical choices.

If you are a business manufacturing environmentally-friendly cleaning products, submit them to Design for the Environment (DfE) for review. If your product is successfully evaluated, you’ll be listed on the EPA’s website and allowed to use the DfE’s logo – opening up your product to new consumers interested in healthier cleaning solutions.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Alternative cleaning solutions can be effective against grime and dirt in addition to being a healthy alternative to potentially hazardous chemicals!

Recycling for Construction and Demolition

Posted on March 21, 2012

Construction waste is a large part of the total waste stream in the United States. While most construction waste is sent to landfills, it is estimated that 90% of this material is reusable or recyclable. Recycling construction waste can help to preserve natural resources and save businesses and consumers money. Common construction items that have the potential for recycling include wood, carpet, paint, wallboard, metal, and plastic.

There are 3 methods that construction contractors can use to improve recycling:

1.          Collecting Mixed Materials – In this method, all materials for recycling are transported to a designated facility, which then arranges the sorting and recycling process.

2.          Separation at the Source – In this method, construction materials targeted for recycling are sorted from other items at the site by category (such as metal, wood, and concrete) and then transported to recycling facilities.

3.          Processing On-Site – In this method, materials identified for recycling are processed on site and made ready for reuse.

The cost benefits that can result from construction recycling include: reduction in disposal and transportation costs, reduction in the need for new materials, and the potential for reduced labor costs.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Taking the time to effectively recycle C&D waste materials helps to save your company money while keeping materials out of landfills.

Lead Safe Certification for Contractors

Posted on March 20, 2012

If you’re in the construction or renovation business, it’s important to be aware of Lead Safe certifications. Regular renovation work such as cutting, sanding, and demolition can result in hazardous lead chips and dust by disturbing lead-based paint, which has been proven to be very harmful to children, and in some cases, adults.

To protect against the risks associated with lead paint dust and chips, the Environmental Protection Agency has the Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule. This rule mandates that businesses performing renovation, repair, and painting projects disturbing lead-based paint in pre-1978 residential and commercial building be certified and that they use certified renovators trained by EPA-approved training providers to follow lead-safe work practices.

Contractors working under these conditions must use lead-safe work practices and abide by three guidelines:

1.          Contain the work area.

2.          Minimize dust.

3.          Clean up thoroughly.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Lead Paint chips and dust are hazardous to both humans and the environment. When making renovations to at-risk buildings, be sure to utilize an EPA certified firm to ensure that the work is done properly. The little extra you spend will guarantee a safe, healthy environment for all!

Facts About Air Duct Contamination

Posted on March 19, 2012

Whether your concerned about your home or a large residential or commercial building, preventing contamination of air ducts is a serious subject.

Depending on the condition of the ducts, they may or may not need to be professional cleaned. However, enacting a comprehensive preventive maintenance policy is essential for minimizing or elimination contamination. Here are five simple steps that you can add to your regular building maintenance routine:

1) Stop dirt from penetrating the system: For your cooling and heating, use the highest efficiency air filter recommended by your system’s manufacturer. They may cost a few pennies more, but they’ll save you dollars in the long run!

2) Change air filters regularly and check them frequently. At certain times, due to weather or production demands, filters may become clogged at an accelerated rate. Replace all clogged filters promtply.

3) Be sure that all airways have filters and that they are securely in place. Missing or poorly fitted filters can allow dirt and contaminants to enter.

4) When your service provider is conducting routine maintenance on your system, be sure to ask them to clean cooling coils and drain pans.

5) During construction work that produces dirt and dust in your building, seal off the supply and return registers and do not operate the heating and cooling system until after cleaning up.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Taking a few extra moments to routinely check and replace your building’s air duct filters can help save your health, the environment, and money in the long-term as it will eliminate the need to hire outside assistance in contamination clean-up!

Business-Use Disposal of Mercury-Containing Light Bulbs

Posted on March 16, 2012

If you own a business and use mercury-containing light-bulbs, it’s important to know how their use and disposal of is regulated.

Use and disposal of mercury-containing lights have both state and federal regulation. Every state has different policies and some may be more stringent than the federal policies. It’s always a good idea to check with your state regulatory office or local government to know exactly what you are responsible for.

In terms of federal regulations, most mercury-containing light-bulbs are considered hazardous waste. Even if your bulbs contain less mercury, it is always a safe course of action to treat them as you would other hazardous materials such as chemicals, tires, electronics equipment, or pesticides.

Under federal regulations, a mercury-containing bulb is considered non-hazardous if it contains less than 0.2 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of mercury – all others are placed in the toxic category. Bulbs that meet this criteria are not subject to federal regulations.

General knowledge about the mercury level in the bulb may or may not be provided by a manufacturer. Some states require manufacturers to test their bulbs to determine if they are non-hazardous, however, this is not a uniform practice. Under both federal and state laws, the ultimate responsibility for determining whether a bulb is hazardous lies with the person or business disposing of the waste, not the manufacturer. If you cannot prove with certainty that the bulbs you are disposing of are non-hazardous, then it’s safest to assume they are hazardous and dispose of them accordingly.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Responsibility lies with you and your business to ensure that hazardous waste is disposed of properly. Mercury is a hazardous material and can easily contaminate soil and water is not handled properly.

College Campus Recycling

Posted on March 15, 2012

RecycleMania springs back into action as college campuses compete to see who can reduce, reuse and recycle the most on-campus waste. For a 10-week period, beginning in mid-January and running parallel to the college basketball season, colleges and universities take part in an exciting competition that increases recycling participation by students and staff, and raises awareness about the significance of waste reduction programs on campuses.

Colleges and universities choose to participate in either the formal competition which ranks them based on standardized weight measurements, or as part of the less formal Benchmark division. In both cases, schools submit weight data for paper, cardboard, cans and bottles, food waste and general trash each week, and are in turn able to see how they measure up against each other in the continuously updated results.

RecycleManias success comes from its ability to use competitive spirit and campus rivalries to motivate students who are less likely to respond to save the earth kinds of messages, according to Stacy Wheeler, co-founder of the RecycleMania competition.

Indeed, RecycleMania is about more than simply winning. It is an opportunity for schools to raise awareness of their campus recycling programs as well as waste reduction and conservation issues in general. And, of course, its also about simply recycling more. In 2009, 510 participating colleges and universities collected over 69.4 million pounds of recyclables and compostable organics. This prevented the release of 88,739 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2E) into the atmosphere.

The ability to energize students about recycling while tapping into the friendly competition between schools is the magic of RecycleMania, said Ed Skernolis, vice president/recycling, Keep America Beautiful (KAB). Quantifying how much material can be collected for recycling and composting from a campus community enlightens not only the students and faculty, but helps the administration understand the positive environmental and economic impact that increased recycling can have on a university.

The RecycleMania competition began in 2001 as a challenge between Miami University of Ohio and Ohio University. Today, it is independently owned and governed by the RecycleMania Steering Committee, which is made up of recycling managers from five participating universities. The 2010 RecycleMania competition is administered by national nonprofit KAB in conjunction with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agencys WasteWise program. The competition is made possible with the sponsorship support of The Coca-Cola Company, KAB and the American Forest & Paper Association.

RecycleMania helps students rethink their waste, said Scott Vitters, director of sustainable packaging at The Coca-Cola Company. Coca-Cola is a proud sponsor of the RecycleMania program. Through the course of the competition, students learn to recognize that bottles, cans, cardboard, and paper are valuable recyclable materials.

Each year of the event brings fresh, new faces to the competition. As Harvard Universitys Recycling and Waste Manager Rob Gogan noted, Colleges are naturally competitive with their rivals. RecycleMania hitches the recycling and conservation bandwagon to that powerful energy.

RecycleMania has grown to 607 colleges and universities this year, increasing by almost 100 the number of participating schools from 2009. These colleges and universities represent more than five million students, and 1.3 million faculty and staff from 49 states, the District of Columbia and Canada. The states with the most participants include Pennsylvania (52), Texas (42), Massachusetts (42), California (40) and New York (37). The list of institutions taking part is diverse, ranging from Brigham Young University to Yale University to Labette Community College in Parsons, Kansas.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Colleges and Universities generate enormous amounts of waste every year. Get the students involved in competitions like Recycle Mania and make a difference!

Bags: Reusable Versus Disposable

Posted on March 14, 2012

If you’re responsible for purchasing bags for your business, this is an important question: Which is better for the environment? Paper or plastic shopping bags? Or reusable versus disposable bags?

Without a doubt, reusable shopping bags or reusing previously acquired paper or plastic bags is the best course of action. Putting items in a bag may not even be necessary – so be sure to give customers an option to go “bag-free” if they choose.

The Environmental Protection Agency encourages businesses and consumers to reduce, reuse, and recycle paper and plastic bags. It is easy to establish recycling collection bins at your business or offer small incentives to those customers who bring their own bags.

Businesses can help to reduce waste and encourage consumers to get into the “green habit” by offering inexpensive reusable shopping bags. Using reusable bags helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy, and avoid environmental impacts associated with the production of new paper and plastic bags.

It is important for everyone to properly dispose of their waste and businesses can encourage this behavior by providing both trash and recycling bins and encouraging customers to use them.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: More and more consumers care about preserving the environment every day, so show your customers you’re listening but providing options and incentives to reward their green behaviors. They’ll be more loyal to you as a result!

Building Green for Today and Tomorrow

Posted on March 13, 2012

With every day more examples are generated showing that “green building” practices save energy, money, and resources by creating homes and commercial space that is appealing and environmentally friendly.

In the U.S., buildings are responsible for:

1.          Thirty-nine percent of total energy use

2.          Twelve percent of water consumption

3.          Sixty-eight percent of electrical consumption

4.          Thirty-eight percent of all carbon dioxide emissions

By enacting green building practices, businesses can maximize both environmental and economic performance. Green building practices can easily be incorporated into the building process at any stage, from design to construction, renovation and deconstruction. However, the greatest benefits can be derived if the design and construction team begins their planning and implementation at the earliest stages of a project. Some of the positive environmental outcomes of green building include:

§           Environmental protection

§           Enhance and preserve biodiversity and ecosystems

§           Improve air and water quality

§           Reduce waste streams

§           Conserve natural resources

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Building green doesn’t have to cost extra “green”! Research the materials options that are available when planning for your next building project – you’ll be surprised by the choices and their relative cost.

Certification for E-Recyclers

Posted on March 12, 2012

Businesses that are focused on electronics recycling should consider securing certification through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) by utilizing a independent, third-party auditor to show that national safety and management standards are upheld. There are two accredited certifications that businesses can pursue: e-StewardsŪ and Responsible Recycling Practices. These certifications are used to assist consumers with selecting certified e-recyclers.

What are the benefits of certification and utilizing best practices in safety and management of e-waste?

§           Reducing human health and environmental impacts from incorrect recycling of e-waste;

§           Increasing availability and access to quality re-used electronics to those in need;

§           Reducing the negative environmental impact associated with mining for raw materials used in electronics and conserving natural resources.

Certification programs call for best practices and offer businesses and opportunity to evaluate their worker health, environmental, and safety practices in dealing with e-waste. Both certification programs are are focused on maximizing environmental standards for reuse and recycling and require complete removal and destruction of all information left on used electronics.

Consumers can trust certified e-recyclers as they have demonstrated to the independent certifying body that they consistently meet high standards for safely and management of pre-owned electronics. A national certification accreditation board oversees certifying bodies to ensure they qualified to audit and meet their specific responsibilities.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Certification not only helps your business to stand out from competitors but it also helps to ensure that you’re following the best possible practices. That not only saves you money but helps to save the environment as well!

Clean Sweep for Commercial Pesticides

Posted on March 10, 2012

Individuals states have been reducing pollution and contamination for more than twenty years by collecting chemical waste. Since many chemical waste programs are designed for individual residences, farmers and ranchers are prohibited from utilizing them. However, many states have also enacted “Clean Sweep” programs that are designed for ranchers, farmers, and others involved in industries using chemical pesticides.

In states offering Clean Sweep programs, it is often the department of agriculture which organizes and oversees the program. In some states, Clean Sweep programs are limited to ranchers and farmers, but other states make participation available to pest control businesses, golf courses, lawn maintenance companies, homeowners, etc. These programs are generally supplied funding through pesticide registration fees, the EPA, and state funds. Many states offering Clean Sweep use single day events, similar to electronic-waste collection methods, as their primary collecting effort, but the opportunities vary from state to state. Most Clean Sweep programs require preregistration so business interested in participating should contact their state’s department of agriculture or municipal transfer station to learn more. The hazardous chemical waste that is collected is then transported and disposed in a high-temperature incinerator through an appropriate contractor thus ensuring safe disposal that will not contaminate the soil or surrounding groundwater.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: If chemical waste is generated through your everyday business activities, contact your state’s Department of Agriculture to learn more about Clean Sweep programs. They can help you to help save the environment and cut back on disposal costs!

Focus on Food Waste

Posted on March 8, 2012

Any food material, cooked or raw, which is intended or required to be discarded at a certain time is considered food waste. Food waste is the organic residue that results from the serving, cooking, preparation, sale, storage, and handling of food.

Why is it important to think about food waste and “scraps”?

§           Food waste and scraps account for eighteen percent of waste deposited at US landfills.

§           When food waste is deposited in a landfill, it will decompose and generate methane, which is a dangerous greenhouse gas.

§           Food waste can be a valuable resource with the potential to create both renewable energy and be an amendment to the soil.

§           Using food waste as as a resource extends it’s usefulness and helps to preserve the environment.

Anaerobic digestion occurs when microorganisms break down food scraps, manure, and other organic materials , without the presence of oxygen. The completion of anaerobic digestion results in two useful products: biogas and solid residual. Biogas, comprised of methane and carbon dioxide, can be used in a way similar to natural gas. The solid residual is ideal when used as a soil amendment. The benefits of using anaerobic digestion to extend the usefulness of food waste include generating renewable energy, reducing methane greenhouse gas, and diverting material for landfills.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Every living being needs to eat, so why not help to save the environment and possibly save some money by putting a plan in place to effectively reuse and recycle food scraps and waste?

Considerations for Composting Programs

Posted on March 7, 2012

Composting waste is gaining in popularity, but before you start a program for your municipality, organization, or neighborhood, understanding these five conditions that require controlling will enhance you chance for success.

1.          Nutrient and feedstock balance. Decomposition needs a balance of nitrogen-rich “green” organic materials (e.g., manure, food scraps, grass clippings), and carbon-rich “brown” organic materials (e.g., wood chips, dry leaves, branches). Deriving the correct nutrient blend requires patience and experimentation.

2.          Particle size. Shredding compostable material will increase the surface area that microorganism can feed on. While smaller particles produce a more even compost mixture, if the particles are too small they can prevent the free flow of air from throughout the pile.

3.          Moisture. The microorganisms working in your compost pile require adequate moisture for survival. Organic materials will naturally contain some moisture but additional water in the form of intentional watering or rainfall may be required.

4.          Oxygen. Routine turning the compost or including items such as shredded newspaper or wood chips help to keep a steady oxygen flow. The oxygen allows decomposition to occur at a faster rate but care must be taken not to provide too much oxygen as it can dry out the compost.

5.          Temperature. A certain temperature range is required for microorganisms to thrive. This will promote more rapid composting while destroying weed seeds and pathogens. Paying close attention to oxygen, moisture, particle size and nutrient balance can help to ensure an optimal temperature.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Composting programs can save your business or municipality money while helping the environment but care needs to be taken to ensure they are done correctly for optimal success.

Importance of Paper Recycling

Posted on March 6, 2012

More so than any other material that Americans throw away, paper makes up twenty-nine percent of all municipal solid waste. However, making an effort to recycle paper can drastically reduce the overall amount of solid waste generated. The Environmental Protection Agency provides details and guidelines on recycling paper for professional recyclers, teachers, citizens, students, and individuals involved in the paper industry.

While Americans recycled sixty-three percent of all paper used in 2010, this number can be improved. Recycling reduces landfill space and greenhouse gasses, and preserves the environment. An overwhelming majority of America’s paper mills are equipped to use paper collected via recycling programs, and they rely on recycling to provide the raw materials needed to make new paper.

When trees are felled for the paper industry, carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere contributing to greenhouses gasses. These gasses can only be removed when the rate of carbon absorption is great than the carbon dioxide emission rate.

What are some of the key benefits of recycling paper? If 1 ton of paper was recycled it would:

§           Provide enough power to supply a home for six months

§           Save water in excess of seven thousand gallons

§           Preserve 3.3 cubic yards in a landfill

§           Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 1 metric ton of carbon equivalent (MTCE)

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Paper recycling is one of the easiest and most efficient things you business can do to save money and the environment. It’s never too late to start or improve your recycling program.

Small Businesses Can Prevent Waste

Posted on March 5, 2012

All businesses, large or small, will produce waste. In some instances, the waste may be only paper or water; but for others, hazardous or harmful wastes may be produced which require special disposal and handling methods. Regardless of the amount or type of waste a business produces, they all have one common feature – removal costs! If you want to save your businesses money, reducing your waste is the first place to start.

Recycling is a part of this waste-reducing, money-saving equation as some materials can be re-used to generated new products. While most companies understand the environmental and economic sense of recycling, the process requires handling, energy and labor use, and reprocessing. The important fact to keep in mind every bit of waste that doesn’t make it into your revenue stream is now costing you money. Better to reclaim those lost revenues by making your waste into a part of your services or products.

When an organization makes the decision to consume less and think twice before disposing, there is an automatic reduction in the need to collect and dispose of waste. There are many strategies for reducing waste generation, including:

§           Purchasing long-lasting, durable goods and materials

§           Reducing or eliminating raw materials that are not a part of your final product or service

§           Using toxic materials products

§           Cutting back on packaging, water and energy use

§           Utilizing in-process methods for recycling

Many waste reduction efforts, such as e-mail instead of printed copies and double-sided printing, are easy to implement and inexpensive, they only require a positive attitude and willingness to change!

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Waste prevention is a business strategy from which any company, regardless of size or type, can benefit.

 

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