These days it seems that most companies are going green and providing recycle containers for employees to use. Policies like this can actually be very attractive to potential business partners. People all over the world are concerned about the environment and many CEOs prefer to work with executives who share their beliefs. Once your company starts making the most of recycling containers and packaging, you will not only be giving back to the Earth, you will also give your business a competitive edge.

Obtaining containers for recycling is the first step toward starting your own company wide program. Before you invest the time and money into this effort, there are a few things you may want to do:

1. Learn more about recycling containers and packaging.

2. Look into purchasing office products that are shipped with recycling packaging.

3. Create a budget to set up separate recycling bins for plastic, paper, metal and cardboard.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Learn why recycling containers are essential for the planet

Every type of natural resource is available in limited amounts. This means that, once something is used up entirely, it can not be replaced. Therefore, recycling becomes an essential responsibility for corporations as well as individuals. Aside from helping preserve these items, recycling will give your company more of an appeal to investors and potential business partners. Many people prefer to work with corporations that are concerned about the environment and are able to show that they take steps to support the cause of recycling.

I recommend: Find out more about the importance of recycling at Earth911 or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. Read about how reusing natural resources will benefit your company at Air Cycle.

Understand why it is important to have a recycling container at work

Every work place utilizes all of the most commonly recycled goods, which are glass, paper, aluminum and cardboard. Business owners that provide bins to collect and recycle these materials will not only be helping preserve resources, they will also be making their company more appealing to potential business partners. Many corporate executives prefer to work with others who follow green policies, so by promoting a recycling program at your place of business, you will also be providing your company with an edge over those that still treat reusable items as garbage. There are organizations that will help your company start up a viable recycling system and train your staff about the importance of preserving all appropriate materials.

I recommend: Get help starting a recycling program from Recycle at Work. Get tips on starting your own program from The City of San José.

Look into purchasing recycle containers

Whether you are interested in industrial recycling containers, metal recycling containers or plastic bins, there are recycling container manufacturers that produce exactly what you are looking for. Find everything you need online, learn how they can benefit your company and order them now for immediate delivery. As soon as you receive the goods, implement a company wide recycling program.

I recommend: Check out larger containers at Youngstown Iron & Metal. Discover the benefits of plastic bins from NAPCOR. Purchase stainless steel recycling containers from Waste Wise Products. Learn more about the different types of recycling containers from Clean Energy Ideas.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Order stackable recycling containers that will take up less space.
• •  Buy used recycling containers for sale to save your company money.
• •  Making the most of recycling containers and packaging can be advantageous for your business, but the primary focus should always be to reuse the planet's natural resources as much as possible.

Recycling containers are a necessity in today's world. We must save our resources so they may be used another day. Ecocycle.com explains that recycling one ton of paper saves 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil, over 3 yards of landfill area, and 60 lbs. of air pollution. Containers for recycling are perfect for storing every reusable item in any home or office environment. Modern recycling containers and packaging are affordable and easily accessible.

It's essential for everyone to follow the 3 R's: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Many products are recyclable—the most common items found in homes or businesses include:

1. Paper products such as newspaper, magazines, unwanted mail or printed pages

2. Glass bottles

3. Almost any plastic product (bottles, bags, etc.)

4. Aluminum cans

5. Cardboard

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find recycling containers for sale

There are many recycling container manufacturers. Most recycle containers are made of durable plastic that will not crack or dent. Some recycling containers have wheels for storing and moving large amounts of reusable materials. Recycling bins are made to suit any home or business need.

I recommend: Order containers for recycling online from companies such as Uline, Recyclingbin.com, Advanced Environmental Products, or BuyOnlineNow.com.

Save space with stackable recycling containers

Storage space can be an issue. Many recycling containers are stackable and allow you to keep all of your recyclable items in a small area.

I recommend: Explore your options for stackable recycling containers online at websites like Recy-CAL Supply Company, Stacks and Stacks or Improvements.

Locate specialty recycling containers for sale

You may need more than a standard recycling container for your business. Industrial recycling containers and metal recycling containers are also available for purchase.

I recommend: Find metal containers for your recycling program at Witt Industries or Busch Systems.

Use recycling packaging for all of your products

Any item that is mailed from one location to another can be packaged in materials that are recyclable.

I recommend: Learn more about recycling packaging at WasteOnline. This site explains the various types of packaging materials available, the benefits of using recyclable materials and displays the symbols which indicate that materials are recyclable. Visit Unicor Online to learn how to properly package computer monitors, CPUs and other computer related items for recycling.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Recycling bins can also be works of art. Many recycle containers are designed to be eye catching displays in public areas. Containers for recycling often feature pictures of nature. According to Recyclingbin.com, nature scenes are the best way to motivate people to recycle.

Business owners all over the country are learning that the need for recycling containers and other materials is no laughing matter. What the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency calls "material source reduction" is now a big business, and there's a need for client businesses to get on board, or set up their own systems for recycling, including recycling the materials they have, or finding appropriate containers.

Business decision-makers can get help from a variety of web sources in order to find the best recycling containers and packaging solutions for their shops. Those looking for this kind of assistance for ways to recycle containers might use:

1. Case study and informational resources from municipalities or government agencies.

2. Informative leads to "green" councils and recycling orgs from the private sector, and grassroots organizations on recycling packaging and materials.

3. Courses or training materials to help educate staff on the ins and outs of recycling containers for sale or other packaging.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find business information and case study resources from municipalities about recycling containers

Municipalities, from the East Coast to the West, are some of the prime movers of recycling containers today. Municipalities have an interest in recycling: Their business is to administrate the environment of a local population. Businesses and individuals can benefit from the online resources of forward-thinking local governments.

I recommend: King County, WA, is helping to pioneer recycling containers education with a page listing various local businesses and their particular strategies. This can be very helpful for other businesses anywhere as a case study basis for re-engineering business processes. This guide from the County of Sacramento, CA, also gives businesses some pertinent info about containers and packages for recycling.

Use 'org resources' from non-profit or private sector sources on the issue of recycling containers

Other groups with non-profit status, or 'grassroots' agencies, also provide helpful education on recycling containers. Take a look through the detailed websites, and you'll find that what's written there may help your business get a handle on material source reduction.

I recommend: The World Environmental Organization has compiled the "Top 100 Recycling Sites" online for businesses concerned with recycling container options. For much for business and private sector recycling bins, options and programs, take a look at the site of the Container Recycling Institute.

Get training and materials from online sources for recycling containers in various industries

Other sites will help you arrange for site training, or get materials to educate on how to approach getting containers for recycling or handling other necessary fixes.

I recommend: The Ag Container Recycling Council has training materials available by order for businesses nationwide. Or get training options from consulting firms at Environmental Expert online.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In any kind of initiative, talk up the new direction you're going in and get the backing you need to make sure the recycling packaging idea will 'stick' within the company or business.

Whether it's dealing with containers or recycling plants, gaining knowledge about the various aspects of recycling can be beneficial to your company. Brush up on some key terms to educate yourself and others that you work with, such as vendors, employees or others who share like-minded businesses.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Biocompostable

Biocompostable materials refer to plastic and paper products that disintegrate and biodegrade completely. This can only occur when they are used for compost in a municipal or commercial facility. Check with your recycler to determine if they offer this type of recycling, as it is an environmentally-friendly option.

I recommend: Check out Coextruded Plastic Technologies to learn more about biocompostable materials.

Recycling event kiosks

If you host events and wish to allow for recycling at the gathering, then positioning plastic recycling event kiosks around the area can promote recycling.

I recommend: See examples of plastic recycling event kiosks at RecyclingBin.com.

Buy-back center

A buy-back center is a facility that purchases small amounts of recycled materials from the public. These facilities pay the patron for the materials.

I recommend: Visit the Western Placer Waste Management Authority to learn more about what types of materials might be accepted at a buy-back center.

Chlorofluorocarbons

In the early 1990s, the Environmental Protection Agency implemented new recycling programs to help the earth's ozone layer. Instead of releasing chlorofluorocarbons, or CFCs, into the air, companies are required to harness the gas for reuse. Automobile air conditioners and refrigerators are two of the biggest users of CFCs.

I recommend: Visit the Upper Midwest Aerospace Consortium to learn more about what chlorofluorocarbons are composed of and how they're used.

File stock

File stock is a special grade of mixed office papers that might normally be thrown away. These files might come from offices, archives, records centers or libraries. You should check with your recycler to see if they accept file stock.

I recommend: Learn about some of the types of papers and materials that might or might not be included with file stock at Recycling & Shredding Services.

Plastic recycling codes

If you choose to offer recycling for plastic, then you should be able to inform your employees about the types of plastic that can be reused. Become familiar with plastic recycling codes, which are the numbers placed inside triangles on plastic containers.

I recommend: Learn all about plastic recycling codes at The Go Green Blog.