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WASTE RECYCLING INFORMATION
March 2012
WASTE RECYCLING TITLES IN THIS MONTHS COLLECTION
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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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