Recycling at Work
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Have you
signed up for the Massachusetts
WasteWise Program?
It is a FREE program for
businesses; by joining WasteWise businesses can:
- Participate in
local
and regional forums on waste reduction and
recycling
- Receive technical
assistance from MassDEP/EPA waste reduction and
recycling experts |
Have
you registered for Tools for a Greener Office Workshop?
On June 24 MassRecycle is hosting a workshop geared for businesses
becoming
more green. For more information, email Megan
Harrington.
Last year's
Program Guide/Manual provides steps to developing a recycling program
and great case studies. You can order a copy of this 50-page
document by emailing Jessica Wozniak.
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What
type of paper can my business/work recycle?
- Accounting Ledgers
- Boxes
- Brochures
- Calendars - wall type
- Carbonless Forms (NCR)
- Cardboard - corrugated & paperboard
- Catalogs
- Clasp envelopes
- Colored paper
- Cover and card stock, index cards
- Envelopes -with plastic windows or labels
- File folders
- Glossy paper
- Hanging file folders
- Legal Pad Paper
- Letters
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- Mail -including junk mail
- Magazines
- Newspaper
- Office and copy paper - white or colored
- Packing paper
- Paper - lined, white or colored
- Paper - fax
- Pamphlets
- Phone books
- Photocopies
- Receipts
- Shredding paper - loose or paper bags
- Stationery -white or colored
- Tabulating and Time Cards
- Writing tablets
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Remember: You don't need to remove staples, paper clips, tape, spirals
or windows from your paper prior to recycling.
How
can I get my business/work to recycle?
Step 1: Get top level
support. Commitment
from the top of your organization is important.
Step 2: Select a Recycling
Coordinator who understands the program is helpful. A
successful recycling program needs a coordinator who can foster a sense
of teamwork and enlist support.
Step 3: Form a Recycling
Team. A
team approach can be an efficient way to involve staff and decrease the
workload for any individual person or department.
Step 4: Conduct a waste survey to
detemine the best and most efficient collection and recycling options
and provide essential information for conversations with your current
waste service provider or a new service provider. Use the table
below to identify the largest quantities of recycable materials that
are currently being thrown away.
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It's the Law!
Did you know there are disposal bans for certain recyclables?
Your
Business & Waste Bans: What you need to know!
If you see violators of the Waste Bans, call the Commercial Waste
Reduction Hotline at 617-348-4002.
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The
Recyclable Worksheet
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Your Business
Estimated Percentage
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Typical Retail
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Typical Office
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Typical Restaurant
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Corrugated Cardboard
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40%
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15%
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19%
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Office White Paper
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10%
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30%
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5%
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Mixed Paper
(magazines, newspaper & colored paper)
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25%
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35%
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7%
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Cans
(metal & aluminum)
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1%
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2%
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5%
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Plastic Bottles
& Containers
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8%
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6%
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7%
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Glass
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0%
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0%
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7%
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Other
(includes all non-recyclables)
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16%
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12%
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50%
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Totals
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100%
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100%
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100%
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Step 5: Use your waste survey data
to establish a baseline. How
many tons are disposed of? Recycled?
Step 6: Contact your community's Recycling Coordinator
to
see what they can offer for assistance
and/or
services.
Your community may be able to:
- Pick up
recyclables at curbside,
- Allow the usage of a Recycling Center,
- Provide collection containers for free or
reduced
cost,
- Provide labels and signage for free or
reduced cost, or
- Provide technical assistance, such as a
waste survey or finding a new waste service provider.
Step 7: Do
you work in a building with other businesses? Is there other
businesses close by? Perhaps your business and others can develop a CO-OP system where
you collectively receive recycling services.
Step 8: Contact your Property Manager to
determine options (they may be able to assist you).
Step 9: Talk to a recycling service provider.
Recycling through a vendor (aka "hauler", "waste service provider",
"recycler") does cost money. Typically, businesses pay per
pick up and/or rent collection containers (aka "toters" or "roll
offs".)
The questions listed below may help you in your conversations with a
potential recycling service provider.
- What types of material does the recycling service
provider accept for recycling? Are these the same materials that
you are looking to recycle? Be as specific as possible.
- How should the recyclables be prepared for
collection? Is there a minimum quantity requirement for pick up?
- Will they provide collection containers and/or
dumpsters for recyclables? Do they provide a slotted dumpster for
cardboard? Do these cost extra?
- What would be the collection frequency and estimated
costs for the amount of recyclable materials from your company?
Will this cost vary depending on which materials you choose to recycle?
- Does the recycling service provider require a
contract, or is it an informal arrangement?
- Can you negotiate an "on call" pick up for waste
collection? Now that you will be generating less waste, will you
see a decrease in your current disposal costs?
HELPFUL HINT: You may be currently
be paying for trash services.
However, recycling should reduce your trash tonnage, thus reducing the
frequency of trash pick ups or reducing the size of your trash dumpster
can off set the cost to recycling. You might need to be
savvy in discussing services with your waste service provider.
Step 10: Secure collection containers and labels.
You will more than likely need collection containers and signage.
Make sure recycling is made easy by labeling
containers. MassRecycle sells bumper sticker sized labels. You
can find bins, containers or "slim jims" at Home Depot, Staples, and/or
Office Max. Also try Toter, Inc.
or SCLA -1.
HELPFUL HINT: You may be
able to save money by purchasing outdoor recycling collection stickers
on your own.
Step 11: Track progress.
As you are planning and implementing your green initiatives, allocate
time and effort for measuring and tracking the changes that take
place. This will keep you on track in implementing your recycling
program and help you identify possible issues. Tracking data will
also provide a basis for assessing the overall cost savings, health and
environmental benefits of your work.
Step 12: Reward supporters.
Once your program is in place and successful, be generous in sharing
credit for its success. Such recognition, whether it is
done through a personal thank you letter, public award or additional
points in the employee evaluation process, will help you build support
for future efforts.
Where
can I find a recycling VENDOR for my business?
Earth 911
To find a recycling
business (waste hauler, recycler, etc), enter your
zip code.
Recycling
Services Directory
WasteCap of
Massachusetts developed this online searchable directory
that enables businesses to find vendors who accept, collect, or
purchase recyclable materials.
Are
there AWARD programs for
successful business recycling programs?
MassRecycle's Green Binny Awards
At MassRecycle's Awards Celebration each October we recognize
outstanding achievements in and contributions to recycling and source
reduction in Massachusetts.
American
Forest & Paper Association Awards
Each year the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) hands
out awards for recycling, safety practices, sustainable forest
practices, environmental protection, and energy innovation.
WasteWise
A FREE, voluntary, U.S. EPA
program through which
organizations eliminate costly municipal solid waste, benefiting their
bottom line and the environment. Large and small businesses
from any industry sector are welcome to
participate. Each year, EPA recognizes outstanding achievements
by presenting "Partner of the Year" awards in several
categories, including business, government, and educational
sectors. For more information on the Massachusetts WasteWise
Program, contact Morgan
Harriman,
MassDEP.
Call your Recycling
Coordinator to see if the community your business residents in has
an awards program. Here is a listing of such award programs:
City
of Cambridge's Go Green Awards
City of
Boston's Green Awards
Can I bring my businesses’ recyclables to my
community’s Recycling
Center?
Can I use my community’s curbside recycling
program for my
business?
Below is
a list of municipalities that have reported some type of
“business recycling program” either at curbside or at the drop off Recycling Center. Please
note that a business recycling program is one
that serves any
entity other than a resident. Fees may apply – call first.
To find out more information, find your community's official
recycling or
solid waste web site, a district or regional web site providing
information
about recycling services available to residents of your community,
click here.
Alford
Amherst
Aquinnah
Arlington
Ashby
Ashfield
Athol
Attleboro
Barnstable
Becket
Beverly
Blackstone
Bolton
Bourne
Bridgewater
Brockton
Brookline
Cambridge
Chelsea
Cheshire
Chesterfield
Chicopee
Chilmark
Cohasset
Concord
Cummington
Dalton
Dartmouth
Danvers
Dennis
Devens
Duxbury
Eastham
Edgartown
Egremont
Everett
Fairhaven
Fall River
Falmouth
Florida
Foxborough
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Franklin
Freetown
Georgetown
Goshen
Grafton
Granby
Granville
Great
Barrington
Greenfield
Groton
Hadley
Hamilton
Hancock
Hanover
Hanson
Hardwick
Harvard
Harwich
Hatfield
Haverhill
Hingham
Hinsdale
Holliston
Holyoke
Hudson
Hull
Huntington
Ipswich
Lakeville
Lancaster
Lawrence
Lee
Leicester
Lenox
Leverett
Littleton
Malden
Mansfield
Marblehead
Marion
Marshfield
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Mattapoisett
Medfield
Middlefield
Milton
Monson
Montague
Monterey
Mount
Washington
Nahant
New
Ashford
New Bedford
New
Marlborough
Newburyport
Newton
Norfolk
North Adams
North Andover
North Attleborough
North Brookfield
Northampton
Northbridge
Orange
Orleans
Otis
Pelham
Pepperell
Peru
Petersham
Pittsfield
Plainfield
Plainville
Plymouth
Provincetown
Randolph
Raynham
Revere
Richmond
Rochester
Rockland
Rockport
Royalston
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Russell
Salem
Sandisfield
Sandwich
Saugus
Scituate
Sharon
Sheffield
Sherborn
Shutesbury
Somerset
Somerville
South Hadley
Southampton
Southbridge
Springfield
Stockbridge
Stoughton
Taunton
Truro
Tyringham
Walpole
Waltham
Washington
Wayland
Wellesley
Wellfleet
West Brookfield
West Tisbury
Westfield
Westhampton
Westminster
Westport
Westwood
Williamsburg
Williamstown
Windsor
Worcester
Worthington
Wrentham
Yarmouth
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Other
Helpful Resources:
Earth911
Earth 911 has comprehensive information for businesses wishing to start
a recycling program - including how to motivate employees.
Go Green to Keep Your
Office in the Black was a Workshop for Businesses interested in
making their office more sustainable and cost effective held at
Staples, Inc. Headquarters on June 8, 2007. MassRecycle
distributed a 50 page manual. To order your copy, contact MassRecycle.
Cost: $20.
MassDEP's
Business Waste Reduction Program
Provides information to help your company reduce, reuse and
recycle more waste and buy green products and services.
MassRecycle's
Environmental Tips for the Office
Recycle
at Work
Learn from case studies in Oregon that describe a wide variety of
methods that businesses have adopted to save money and help the
environment through waste prevention and recycling.
Recycling:
in the work place
A resource for recycling more at the office by the Paper Industry
Association Council.
Town
of South Hadley's Business Recyclopedia
Offers steps to starting a program, conducting a waste audit and advice
for specific types of businesses (i.e. retail, restaurants, etc).
Provides plenty of information for any business -regardless if based in
South Hadley or not. Also check out South
Hadley's Business Recycling webpage.
The
Massachusetts WasteWise Program
A free program for
businesses; by joining WasteWise businesses can:
- Participate in local
and regional forums on waste reduction and
recycling
- Network with other
WasteWise member businesses and organizations
- Use the Massachusetts
WasteWise logo to promote its environmental
efforts
- Receive technical
assistance from MassDEP/EPA waste reduction and
recycling experts
US
EPA's Business Guide for Reducing Solid Waste This guide presents an overview on
developing and implementing a waste reduction program, followed by a
series of worksheets designed to help you conduct a waste assessment
and devise a program tailored for your company’s specific goals.
Your
Business & the Waste Bans: What You Need to Know
“Waste bans” are state restrictions on the disposal, transfer for
disposal and contracting for disposal of certain hazardous and
recyclable items at solid waste facilities in Massachusetts. For
regulation language, click here.
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