Calendar
Trash and/or Recycling Route Changes
On March 5, 2012 citizens may notice a change in their trash pick up day and/or a change in recycling collection week. For example, your…
The Great American Cleanup Expo will take place on Saturday, February 4 at City Hall. Whether you're new to the event or a veteran organizer,…
News
Our newest program, Sustainability In Action, is off to a good start. Aimed at helping schools reduce waste, energy, and water consumption through recycling, composting,…
On America Recycles Day, 2TRG collected more than 25,000 pounds of e-waste during our One Stop Drop event at Whole Foods. We also collected 150…
Recycling at the Office
Commercial Waste: An OverviewCommercial waste, or municipal solid waste, is produced by nearly every sector of every society. From residences to retail to restaurants, each source can contribute to minimizing the vast amounts of refuse by developing programs and working as a community.
Conducting A Waste Audit
Establishing where an operation's waste stems from is essential to successfully reducing waste output.
The Walk-Through
- The building should be surveyed on a room-to-room basis, and it should be noted where there may be an opportunity for reduction and/or recycling. Current Waste Operations assists the audit team to effectively note the types of refuse compiled and where they end up.
The Trash Sort
- Just like it sounds, the next step is to physically sort through the total waste generated by one day in the establishment. Identifying waste provides a base for estimating what percentage of each material makes up the daily waste stream.
Materials Quantification
- Quantifying elements of the waste stream offers two options to determine how much of each type of waste there is. Option A is a guide to analyzing purchasing records, and Option B is achieved by ascertaining the weight of each waste component.
Conversion factors: Volume to Weight
- Convert materials in different states of compaction from volume to weight in pounds and tons.
It takes the whole institution to effectively reduce waste. Systematic and consistent work paired with a focus on results will be rewarding both financially and to employees.
Source Reduction and Reuse
- There are innumerable ways to cut waste. Strategies include ideas from double-sided copying to reusing shipping materials.
- Exchange resources! Materials that are unusable for one company may be utilizable for another.
- Purchase materials with less packaging, and contact suppliers to cut costs on both ends.
Recycling
- Determine if it is economically feasible to invest in a private recycling program, or if it's easier to participate in similar programs nearby. Find the right program by figuring out the quantities of recyclable material generated.
- Composting through a private or municipal program is an extremely environmentally friendly option for companies and manufacturers that deal with food on a regular basis.
Addressing Litter
This ongoing problem can be easily put under control. Work with city and neighborhood officials to communicate anti-littering messages to the community, and further educate people on the difference they can make. Providing receptacles for garbage and recycling will reduce litter too, given that they are properly maintained by the company that implemented them. A beautiful neighborhood will be more highly valued by residents, and will reflect positively upon an establishment therein.
Buy Recycled
Stimulate the economy of recycled items by buying products made from recycled material!
A policy to buy recycled products - and not just paper! - is pivotal in establishing a good program. Manufacturers, vendors, and users should cooperate both in terms of purchasing and regulations. Accurate records should be kept to insure market development and economic stimulus.
Green Purchasing
The following list provides examples of green purchasing actions you can implement on a limited basis. Consider it a list of the "Top Ten" things you can do to have immediate impact and results.
- Review purchase specifications and contracts to determine if they contain environmental performance standards or requirements.
- Ask your existing suppliers about environmentally friendly alternatives and give them a try.
- Consider how to make your product or service "green" and what you'll need to purchase differently to make it happen.
- Choose a suitable green products listing and use it when making purchases.
- Purchase and install energy efficient lighting for your buildings.
- Determine who supplies your energy and consider changing to alternative-powered energy sources.
- Request vendors to provide supplies in reusable packaging that can be used for your products or returned to the supplier.
- Purchase appropriately sized lots to minimize waste. Purchase bulk where feasible but in small quantities for shelf life/dated materials.
- Change your office purchasing policies: buy recycled office consumable products, Energy Star certified office equipment, and reusable utensils, plates and cups for meetings.
- Buy and use less toxic cleaners. Or hire those who do.