Establishing a Recycling Program

Comply with the law, help the environment and save your company money.
By John Fuller Many small business owners believe they don't produce enough waste to make it cost effective to set up a formal recycling program. But offices with fewer than 50 employees produce nearly 40 percent of recyclables. Depending on the size of your businesses, you may not be able to just put your recyclables outside, as you would at home. And commercial recycling haulers often require minimum quantities and charge a fee. Recycling may be the last thing you want to think about, but today it's a necessity.

A recycling program will help you:

1. Comply with the law. There are state mandated recyclables, and you can be fined for not recycling
2. Save money, as recycling centers often pay by the pound
3. Do your part to save the environment

 

Know your state laws

You need to figure out exactly what you need to recycle and how to recycle it. There are different processes for recycling paper as opposed to toner, for example.
Try: Go to Raymond Communications to download U.S. Recycling Laws: A State by State Guide. This covers in detail all recycling laws in all U.S. states. Contact your state environmental agency also.

Do your own audit

Determine what kind of recyclables you produce and how much so you know where to begin.
Try: Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection provides free downloadable forms to conduct your waste audit and break down your waste by category and amount.

Pay a hauler

Hauling companies will handle your recyclables as well as your garbage.
Try: Waste Management is a nationwide provide of waste and environmental services for North America.

Get communally green

If you find that the costs of hauling are prohibitive, consider forming a recycling cooperative with other small businesses in your area. You can share the costs of hauling and meet the minumum requirements for waste management companies.
Try: The Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) provides a guide to forming a recycling cooperative.

• You can recycle more than just paper and cans. Donate your computers, chairs, and office furniture to a charity. You'll get a tax deduction for donations.
• Track your progress. You can make a progress chart of amount of recyclables each month and reward employees for their progress.
• If you still can't afford to pay for a hauling service or a cooperative, haul your waste to arecycling center yourself. Recycling centers often pay by the pound. Use the money to reward those who help out with the program.
• Consider joining a roundtable about recycling. They can provide info, training, leadership and technical assistance on issues related to recycling.
• Depending on how large your company is and how much you're recycling, consider putting one person in charge of recycling and provide training as well as compensation and possibly an additional title.