Category Archives: Paper

Paper

Waste Recycling of Unwanted Plastics

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A recent research study at the University of Texas in Austin indicated that if only 5% of all unusable materials at U.S. recycling facilities were converted to fuel, it would create energy to annually power almost seven hundred thousand homes.

Led by Dr. Michael Webber, the associate director of the Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy, the research study determined that fuel created from unrecyclable plastics had a higher energy capability than select grades of coal and could be used in industrial settings.

The study was part of a project designed to demonstrate that fuel from non-recycled plastics, paper and cardboard could successfully power a cement kiln.

In addition to the energy produce, the study also indicated that carbon and sulfur emissions were reduced – almost to the equivalent of remove a million automobiles from U.S. roads.

The study was funded by the American Chemistry Council, which is interested in finding new ways to harness and profit by America’s most abundant and affordable energy resource – those materials disposed of in landfills.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: One business’s trash can be another’s treasure. When was the last time your business did a waste disposal and waste recycling audit? There may be innovative new ways to save green all the way around!

 

Waste Reduction at the Office

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Regardless of your business sector, every business’ goal is to make money and turn a profit.  Careful consideration is to paid to salaries, benefits, and the price of good and services so any degree of “waste” negatively impacts the bottom line. Eliminating or reducing waste makes your business run more effectively and results in savings. When the business office environment wants to reduce waste, the first thing that comes to mind is to recycle. While recycling is certainly a great idea, and helps to divert materials from the landfill, waste reduction needs to take place first. By reducing the amount of waste generated you’ll immediately see cost savings in terms of fewer materials that need to be purchased.

Paper and toner cartridges are two of the most frequently used items in any office environment. Both are relatively easy to recycle and with a few changes in office policy, can also be easy to reduce reliance on. Here are a few suggestions for where to start:

1. All printers and photocopies should print duplex )both sides) by default. This immediately reduces your paper usage by half.

2. When possible, create computer files instead of paper files. Establish computer based calendar and messaging systems to reduce the need for notepads and sticky-notes.

3. Electronic signatures are legally binding and used regularly. Instead of printing, signing, and mailing or faxing documents, use an electronic signature and email.

4. Look for time and resource saving tips. Computer magazines offer reviews of new and established software, so of which may be free, to help reduce your reliance on paper and plastic while maintaining your effectiveness at work.

5. Stop junk mail that arrives at your office or home by asking the company to remove your address and delisting your business address from the Dun & Bradstreet and InfoUSA databases.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Every office will generate some waste that needs to be recycled or disposed of. However, cutting back the excess will save both money and the environment – so think about how you can trim down!

Airports and Waste Recycling

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If you’re in the business of managing airport facilities, starting an on-site recycling program can be a great way to save money on your waste disposal costs and positively impact the environment. Every day, airports are filled with employees and travelers consuming food and drinks purchased at airport facilities. Much of this waste can be recycled with proper planning and management.

When establishing a waste recycling program at your airport, there are a few key points to consider:

1. Decide upon your collection method – will your facility separate recyclables or will all materials be delivered to a recovery facility for sorting? Cost, staffing and airport size will be determining factors.

2. Get buy-in from employees and establish “green” representatives from different work areas. This participation is essential to ensuring that the program is promoted and adhered to.

3. Use resources available from the EPA and your local environmental agency to target specific areas where your facility can recycle, reduce, or reuse. Questionnaires are available to help you determine a baseline for your facility, plot goals, and evaluate results.

4. Talk with your current waste disposal company to determine what kind of recycling services they offer and the cost. Determine what kinds of recyclable materials will be collected.

5. If recycling is new to your facility, think about launching a small scale recycling project is one area first. This will allow you to put a system in place and address logistics before expanding to an entire airport.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: As more people spend more time in airports, recycling programs are a great way to show travelers you can about the environment while reducing your waste disposal costs.

Waste Recycling at Shopping Centers

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Americans, on average, visit a shopping mall or shopping center nearly three times a month thus making these shopping and socializing destinations an ideal place to practice and encourage effective waste recycling. For businesses responsible for the management and maintenance of these mixed use developments, establishing the habit to promote recycling by retailers, restaurants, and the public can result in saving opportunities. Particular types of waste to focus on for any shopping establishment include:

  • Cardboard boxes and packaging
  • Wooden shipping and shortage pallets
  • Plastic, glass, and metal containers
  • Paper of all kinds (newspapers, office…)
  • Restaurant food waste
  • Organic waste from landscaping

The Environmental Protection Agency has specialized materials and resources for managers of commercial buildings to learn more about creating and maintaining effective recycling and waste reduction programs. A key reason for shopping centers and malls to adopt recycling programs is that it saves money by decreasing disposal costs and can possibly create revenue by selling recycled materials. Visit the EPA’s website to read success stories of retailers and commercial centers who implemented recycling programs to learn about best practice strategies.

Waste Care Wants You to Remember: Every piece of waste that is not recycled must be disposed of in a landfill. Implementing full-scale recycling programs can save you and your commercial tenants money while helping to preserve the environment.

Is Your Business Recycling Paper?

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Did you know that waste paper contributes to more than twenty-nine percent of all solid waste? When you look at how much waste your business generates each month know that you could reduce that considerably by recycling paper. Paper recycling is typically the easiest of all office waste to implement programs for and for good reasons.Recycling reduces our need for increasing amounts of landfill space and preserves the environment. Many of America’s paper manufacturers already utilize paper collected through recycling programs, and rely on this stream to create new paper products. When trees are cut down carbon dioxide is released into the atmosphere and this contributes to high levels of greenhouses gasses. Greenhouse gasses have been shown to contribute to climate change, rising sea levels, and radical changes to the environmental landscape.

What are the direct and immediate benefits of recycling paper? When your business recycles over a ton of paper it:

  • Reduces the need for more landfill space
  • Saves thousands of gallons of water
  • Provides power to supply a home for half a year
  • Eliminates greenhouse gases by one MTCE

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: Paper recycling is one of the most efficient things your business can do to save money and the environment. Go green and save green!

Reducing Waste At Work

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Have you ever thought about how much waste you generate on an average day at work? Take one day and try to notice how many times you throw something into the garbage and how much energy is consumed (electricity, gas, oil…) as part of the workplace. If you find you’re surprised at how much waste there is, here are a few suggestions for improving your reduce, reuse, and recycle habits!

  1. Use double sided printing when you need to print out paper copies. If your work does require frequent printing, try to purchase paper that has a high recycled content in it.
  2. Get your employees and co-workers in the habit of viewing files on-line instead of automatically providing paper copies.
  3. Appliances of all sizes continue to draw electricity when they are plugged in but not in use. Make a habit of shutting off and unplugging any non-essential equipment at close of business. You’ll be surprised by the change in your power bill!
  4. Position office furniture near windows to take advantage of natural light and use energy-efficient light bulbs.
  5. Set up carpools or alternative transportation award system to assist employees traveling by public transportation. Install bike racks to encourage biking to work.

WasteCare Wants You to Remember: The easiest way to encourage change in the workplace is to get all employees involved. Make recycling simple and fun and you’ll start to see energy-savings and cost-savings!

Bags: Reusable Versus Disposable

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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!

Considerations for Composting Programs

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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

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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.