Planning Tools Selected Goals of WasteWise Partners
SELECTED GOALS 1 Introduction Waste Prevention
asteWise partners establish waste reduction goals in Waste prevention means using less material to do the same job, three areas: waste prevention, recycling, and buying or cutting waste before recycling. Wmanufacturing recycled-content products. This guide offers Waste prevention (also called source reduction) offers the suggestions to help organizations set quantifiable, achievable goals. The greatest environmental benefits sample goals, combined with partner success stories, illustrate successful and provides substantial cost savings to organizations. methods for reducing waste. Partners may use the ideas in this guide as a Examples of waste prevention catalyst for developing and expanding their own WasteWise goals. activities include using e-mail, reusing office supplies and Prior to selecting waste reduction goals, WasteWise encourages equipment, and reducing or reusing transport packaging. partners to conduct a waste assessment. The assessment will help WasteWise partners commit to partners identify the composition and quantities of waste they generate, as implementing three significant waste prevention activities. well as opportunities for reducing these wastes.
The sample goals provided in this guide have been organized into the following function areas: Recyclables Office Setting Collection Cafeteria and Food Service WasteWise partners commit to initiating, expanding, or improving Distribution and Shipping of Products company programs to collect Purchasing and Receiving of Products recyclables. In some cases, Manufacturing and Production companies add new materials to an existing program, or they Maintenance, Housekeeping, Renovation, and Landscaping increase program efficiency General WasteWise Goals through employee education. Additional suggestions for waste reduction goals may be found in the industry sector fact sheets, now available on the WasteWise Web site Purchase or
Electronics Challenge Function Area:
In 2000, WasteWise launched the Office Setting electronics challenge to encourage the reuse and recovery of this growing aste from offices can account for a large percentage of part of the waste stream. an organization’s waste stream. Most office waste Partners pledged to: Wconsists of various forms of paper, such as stationery, copy paper, computer and printer paper, and cardboard. Smaller Refurbish and/or upgrade existing quantities of other materials such as plastic, metal, glass, and food electronic equipment instead of buying new equipment. waste also end up in office waste. Helpful suggestions for reducing Buy remanufactured equipment waste in the office setting are provided below. instead of new equipment. Buy equipment with recycled WASTE PREVENTION content. Reduce Contract with suppliers to lease Circulate memos, documents, periodicals, and reports rather electronics. than distributing individual copies Contract with suppliers to take back and reuse/recycle equipment as Keep files on diskette or microfiche part of new purchases. Maintain a centralized filing system Donate reusable electronic Communicate using voice or electronic mail equipment (e.g., to schools or other Purchase duplex copying machines and program copy machines nonprofit organizations). to default to duplex copies Recycle equipment from your Replace fax cover sheets with “stick-on” fax transmission organization that cannot be reused. stickers or use a rubber stamp to place transmittal information Sponsor or participate in a on the first pages of faxes collection event or program to help Conduct file transfers via computer others outside your organization Survey current computer reports to identify any unnecessary reuse or recycle electronic products. reports that could be eliminated Seek methods to reduce printing production errors Use smaller envelopes Electronics manufacturers also pledged Use narrow-ruled notebooks to additional goals, including some of Design brochures and advertising flyers with a mailing panel the following: instead of placing them in envelopes Review, edit, and finalize reports and letters on computer screen Redesign an electronic product so before printing that it can be more easily upgraded or remanufactured. Redesign an electronic product so that it can be easily disassembled and recycled at end of life. Use (or increase use of) recycled content materials in your products. SELECTED GOALS 3
Reuse Purchase reusable or refillable pens and pencils Reuse interoffice envelopes Convert scrap paper into telephone answering pads or scratch Kinko's, Inc. leases 92 percent pads of its copiers and printers and 82 Print drafts on the blank sides of used paper percent of its computers and Use an erasable memo or chalk board for messages finishing equipment, which Reuse office supplies through internal waste exchange lessens the environmental burden Repair old furniture and office equipment or donate it to charitable organizations associated with end-of-life Reuse file folders and ring binders electronics equipment. Return laser printer and copier toner cartridges for remanufacturing
RECYCLING COLLECTION Blue Lake Rancheria tribe Place a recycling bin in each office conserved 40 pounds of printer Recycle glass, aluminum, and plastic beverage containers paper by reusing single-sided Suspend the use of colored paper if not easily recycled copies for draft printouts and in Establish “clean out your office” days and recycle items no the fax machine. longer needed Locate paper recycling containers near copiers, printers, and other large generators Recycle audio and video cassette tapes Amtrak saved $3,000 and eliminated 500 pounds of waste BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED by beginning a toner refill Purchase recycled-content office supplies program. Establish a team to investigate effectiveness of recycled-content paper for copiers Upgrade recycled-content paper purchases to include all envelopes, letterhead, and newsletters Increase postconsumer content of paper by setting specific Southern California Edison minimum requirements for postconsumer content purchased more than 45 tons of Commit to printing the organization’s annual report on paper recycled-content products, collected through organization recycling programs including 2,500 chairs with 100 Purchase transparencies made from recycled PET percent recycled content. 4 SELECTED GOALS Function Area: Cafeteria and Food Service Sandia National here are a full range of waste reduction activities that Laboratories prevented 209 cafeteria and food service operators can implement to help tons of solid waste by switching Treduce the amount of solid waste they generate. For to reusable cafeteria dishware, example, food waste can largely be reduced through proper saving the federal facility purchasing, handling, preparation, and storage. (Generation of food approximately $22,000 in 2000. wastes was estimated to be nearly 22 million tons in 1997).1 Other materials that can be reduced in the food service area include corrugated, steel and aluminum cans, glass, and plastics. The list The Los Angeles Unified below highlights many of the activities WasteWise partners have School District began an "offer initiated to reduce food service wastes. versus serve" program in which students can choose the food WASTE PREVENTION they would like to consume, Reduce preventing an estimated 13,646 Purchase food items in bulk containers tons of food waste. Replace individual soda cans or bottles with bulk dispensers Replace plastic coffee stirs with wooden stirs that can be composted The Walt Disney World Reduce plastic by using straw-style stir sticks for bar beverages instead of solid style sticks Company, located in Orlando, Reduce plastic wrap used with catering orders Florida, donated 200 tons of Provide condiments in bulk dispensers prepared food to the Second Give customers the option of straw or no straw with beverages Harvest Food Bank. Decrease weight of carry-out bags Purchase a new kind of butter to eliminate the foil wrapper
California Integrated Waste Reuse Management Board Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, flatware, cups, composted 1.5 tons of food waste and glasses in vermicomposting bins located Reduce use of disposable cups by retrofitting drink vending machines to accept reusable plastic mugs outside of the cafeteria. Use reusable coasters instead of paper napkins when serving bar beverages Donate cafeteria food scraps for use as animal feed
1 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998 Update. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, p.47, 1999. SELECTED GOALS 5
Use reusable plastic trays instead of cardboard or polystyrene Encourage employees to bring in their own mugs and utensils Use reusable coffee filters Arrange for a food bank to pick-up unserved food Pitney Bowes, Inc. Encourage customers to take home surplus food implemented a program to recycle Initiate a vermi-composting system to compost vegetative polystyrene products used in food materials Hire caterers who use reusable kitchenware service. The company converts Provide a discount to customers who bring their own mugs polystyrene into a Purchase company mugs for all employees gel-like material and then returns it to the recycling-equipment RECYCLING COLLECTION vendor for further processing Recycle milk cartons and juice boxes back into polystyrene or other Segregate cafeteria wastes (paper, plastics, and aluminum) to plastic products. This process improve recycling resulted in a 40 percent reduction Collect plastic silverware for recycling of total trash volume. Set up a rendering service for waste grease, fat, or used cooking oil Recycle glass, plastic, aluminum, and steel containers Segregate vegetative materials for composting WasteWise Update, Recovering BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED Organic Wastes-Giving Back to Mother Nature, Switch to napkins with recycled content (EPA530-N-99-007) highlights a Increase purchase of recycled-content paper for food service number of organic waste Purchase carry-out containers with recycled content diversion and recovery options implemented by WasteWise partners, including composting, vermicomposting, mulching and chipping, grasscycling, and donation. The Update also provides basic information on the science of composting and tips on getting started with organics recovery. 6 SELECTED GOALS Function Area: Transport Packaging Challenge Distribution and Shipping of Products In 1999 WasteWise launched the Transport Packaging (TP) ontainers and packaging represent nearly one-third of the Challenge. Partners pledged to total municipal solid waste stream nationwide (71.8 million eliminate unnecessary TP, switch Ctons of generation in 1997).2 Approximately half of this to reusable TP, and reuse waste comes from packaging materials used to transport goods. Transport packaging consists of materials such as corrugated, incoming packaging for outgoing ferrous metals, plastics, and wood. The list below highlights some of shipments. The most common the innovative strategies WasteWise partners have initiated to goal of Challenge participants reduce wastes associated with the distribution and shipping of was to work with suppliers to products. reduce TP, reflecting the importance of building WASTE PREVENTION partnerships to Reduce reduce waste. Transmit invoices and purchase orders electronically Develop an electronic catalog system for parts distribution to service affiliates Design an appendix to product catalogs for each season, The Transport Packaging making a complete, new catalog unnecessary Improve mailing list so a more accurate number of catalogs are Challenge Partner of the Year printed was SST Truck Company, a Reduce the thickness of cardboard used in packaging material Texas-based truck manufacturer. Reduce the size of internal packaging inserts It utilized reusable shipping Redesign product packaging to decrease the amount of materials necessary to package the product racks, worked with its suppliers to Eliminate unnecessary packaging, such as outer cartons reduce packaging for incoming truck parts, and started a return Reuse program for TP, saving the Use reusable air-filled bags in shipping cartons instead of company $55,000 and preventing polystyrene “peanuts” Provide customers with the option of a reusable bag or box for 180 tons of waste in 1999. In all, packaging 47 partners participated in the Develop a pallet return program for routine customers Challenge, but SST Truck Company drove to the top. 2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998 Update. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, p.67, 1999. SELECTED GOALS 7
Use incoming packaging materials for outgoing product packaging Distribute product lines in reusable containers Use shredded newspapers and paper for packing materials Bass Pro Shops salvaged nearly Purchase reusable plastic pallets 170 tons of transport packaging Repair and reuse damaged wooden skids and pallets materials through a shipping and Reuse packaging materials, such as foam peanuts, bubblewrap, and cardboard receiving waste prevention program, saving more than RECYCLING COLLECTION $28,000. This program involved Find a market for plastic wrap and banding the reuse and sale of used wood Develop closed-loop programs to aid customers in recycling of pallets. waste materials Accept packaging material from customers to be recycled Reuse or recycle customer’s LDPE stretch film Remove metal parts from plastic containers so that containers The U.S. Government may be recycled Printing Office saved $20,000 BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED in 2000 by initiating a program to repair approximately 4,000 Purchase pallets made from your own scrap plastic Increase recycled-content in corrugated containers wooden pallets equivalent to 80 Investigate increased recycled content in cardboard packaging tons. inserts Use recycled plastics for consumer packaging
Allergan redesigned lens packaging, eliminating 187 tons of PVC and saving $1.5 million.
Allchem Services reused 200 pounds of plastic packaging material as filler for outgoing shipments, saving $500. 8 SELECTED GOALS
Kitsap County, Washington, minimized purchasing costs through Function Area: an internal Wa$te Exchange, a Purchasing and Receiving program in which departments swap of Products surplus office supplies, saving the county more than $3,700. uppliers are often the source of much of the waste material organizations generate on a daily basis. Dumpsters are often filled with packaging and shipping material from supplier United Technologies Carrier S shipments. By using their purchasing power to leverage suppliers, Corporation reduced cardboard organizations can dramatically reduce the volume of unnecessary and wood pallet usage by converting packaging materials received from suppliers. Organizations should the shipping containers of inbound make their suppliers aware of their commitment to reducing waste bulk materials to returnable and purchasing recycled content products. If current suppliers are containers. A recent vendor unable or unwilling to support this commitment, you may want to agreement resulted in the reduction investigate additional suppliers. Small organizations might consider of more than 33 tons of pallet waste working with trade associations to garner additional power. per year.
Evelyn Hill, Inc. worked WASTE PREVENTION extensively with vendors to redesign Reduce packaging and lightweight containers Require vendors to eliminate unnecessary packaging Order supplies in bulk and emphasized switching to Communicate with suppliers through the electronic transfer of reusable or recyclable containers. purchasing invoice information Specifically, the company negotiated Establish preferred packaging guidelines to encourage waste with Haagen Dazs to eliminate the prevention (durable, concentrated, reusable, and high quality) cardboard overwrap and individual Send letters to vendors stating your commitment to waste cardboard boxes in ice cream prevention and requesting a general decrease in packaging packaging, eliminating more than 3 Encourage suppliers to join WasteWise tons of cardboard. Reuse Switch from corrugated to reusable plastic containers Verizon expanded the use of Ask suppliers to ship raw materials in reusable containers electronic purchasing orders and Establish a vendor return program for shipping containers or pallets invoices, conserving nearly 29 tons Specify that incoming wood pallets meet requirements for of paper and saving more than outgoing pallets so that pallets can be reused $60,000. SELECTED GOALS 9
RECYCLING COLLECTION Request that packaging vendors use only one strapping material so that it can be more easily recycled Compact or bale cardboard and plastic if recyclable quantities Emory University doubled its are large spending on recycled-content Share compactors and balers with neighboring businesses if recyclable quantities are small products to $1.2 million. The university added a procurement BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED link to its Web site, and the purchasing department Create a coalition with similar organizations for a joint- established a requirement that all purchasing venture to facilitate purchases of recycled products Design and use an environmental assessment form to help letterhead be made of purchasing department identify products with recycled content postconsumer-content paper, Establish an environmental supplier award based on EPA standards. Specify preference for recycled-content products in contract language with vendors Investigate recycled-product alternatives for existing products Target works with its suppliers to Develop a guide to help increase recycled content ensure that 99 percent of all Work with vendors to highlight recycled-content products in their clothing and 95 percent of all supply catalog shoes arrive at the store with no Establish a buy-recycled purchasing policy and include it in all excess packaging. purchase orders Send a letter to vendors stating commitment to buying recycled products The U.S. Postal Service-South Purchase recycled-content products where possible in new Florida District recycled 5,787 construction and renovation projects tons of magazines and Educate purchasing department and department heads about opportunities for purchasing products made with recycled undeliverable bulk mail. It also content established an employee Investigate the performance of recycled-content products education program to reduce bulk Implement a supplier questionnaire to learn about the use of mail, contributing to the recycling products with recycled content of 937 tons of mixed paper. Request that vendors increase the number of recycled content products offered in supply catalogs Purchase products with an increased recycled content Commonwealth Edison percentage than products currently purchased switched to a single supplier, which enabled it to receive supplies as needed and reduce waste from materials that exceeded their shelf life. 10 SELECTED GOALS Function Area: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. laundered and reused nearly 6 Manufacturing and tons of cloth wipes used in Production production processes. anufacturers face a variety of competing demands— keeping costs low and quality high, staying competitive in a Mglobal marketplace, and meeting consumer preferences for Florida Power & Light more environmentally benign products. Organizations are responding to prevented the disposal of these challenges by incorporating environmental considerations into the approximately 11,700 utility poles design and redesign of products, processes, and technical management systems. Through a variety of innovative practices, through donation and sale. The WasteWise partners have drastically reduced the volume of waste company also saved $1.5 million generated in the manufacturing and production area. by reclaiming, refurbishing, and reusing pole line hardware and WASTE PREVENTION other parts. Reduce Improve product design to use less materials (design-for-the- environment)3 Implement preventative maintenance programs to improve Siemens Automotive efficiency and to eliminate downtime Corporation conducted an Eliminate the use of plastic films in the manufacturing process employee awareness program on Lightweight plastic and aluminum product packages (e.g., plastic bottles and aluminum beverage cans) the reuse of lab coats in its clean Reduce production scrap by modifying production equipment rooms, decreasing the disposal of and processes lab coats by 33 percent and Control inventory to reduce the overpurchase of non-recyclable plastic pellets used in the manufacturing process saving $21,000. Manufacture concentrated products to reduce HDPE plastic packaging Reuse Anheuser-Busch Inc. reused Reuse manufacturing waste in product 13,000 tons of diatomaceous Reuse scrap cloth as pallet covers earth and spent beechwood Expand internal reuse of process scraps chips, by-products of the brewing Clean and reuse disposable shoe covers and gloves process, in cement and compost, Reuse electrostatic device bags in manufacturing rather than respectively. discarding them
3 For more information, visit EPA's Design for the Environment Web site at http://www.epa.gov/dfe/ SELECTED GOALS 11
Use rechargeable batteries Launder and reuse cleaning rags Herman Miller requires an Reuse drums for internal storage and transportation of environmental lifecycle materials assessment for all new products Education to help the company determine Include “design-for-the-environment” in engineer training how it can conserve resources by altering product designs and Measurement processes. Develop a waste tracking system for production facilities which measures and tracks the waste generated on a per unit basis
RECYCLING COLLECTION General Motors incorporated Compost organic waste, such as wood or textiles more than 3,500 tons of recycled- Conduct monthly audits of material recovery center to content plastic, textile, and rubber identify additional recyclables components into its automobiles. Recycle metal strapping bands, shavings, and floor sweepings Recycle plastic shipping tubes and rails Recycle protective plastic gloves and booties used in manufacturing process Eastman Kodak seeks Collect and bale PET to be used in a product innovative ways to reduce waste, Recycle postconsumer engineering plastic including remanufacturing its line of single-use FUNSAVER BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED cameras, which have a return Include environmental considerations such as recycled- rate of 74 percent. Through this content in product design criteria program, Kodak diverts mixed Increase capacity to manufacture recycled-content products plastics and metals from the Increase percentage of postconsumer recycled content in HDPE waste stream by incorporating purchased for use in manufacturing process the parts into new cameras. Purchase plastic drain pans made with 20 percent recycled PVC Evaluate purchase of recycled-content materials for product lines Train manufacturing facilities to evaluate manufacturing The Seydel Companies recycled opportunities reduced production waste by Develop a prototype pressed paper pallet made from 100 donating 1,000 pounds of excess percent mixed paper cloth to a local senior center for Purchase a crosscut shredder to shred aluminum cans and use quilt making and saved more material in manufacturing process than 3 tons of glass and $4,300 by cleaning and reusing glass sample jars. 12 SELECTED GOALS Function Area: Maintenance, Eastern Illinois University Housekeeping, Renovation composted 12 tons of yard and tree trimmings on site for use as and Landscaping
mulch around and on campus astes generated in areas such as housekeeping, landscaping. vehicle maintenance, construction, and grounds Wmaintenance can easily be overlooked. These wastes can account for a substantial portion of an organization's waste stream, however. In 1997, yard trimmings alone comprised an Bert Fish Medical Center estimated 13 percent of the municipal solid waste stream generated $3,000 by selling (27.7 millions tons).4 Other high volume waste from these function furniture and memorabilia from areas include plastic, corrugated, rubber, wood, and paper. Many the demolition of an old portion of WasteWise partners reduce these wastes by purchasing in bulk, the hospital. composting, and reusing materials. Additional examples of waste reduction initiatives are provided below. WASTE PREVENTION The Washoe County Reduce Government Sheriff's Office Replace paper towels in bathroom with a cloth towel roll reused nearly 11 tons of wood, Purchase dispensers that regulate the amount of paper towels used metal, and glass from damaged Purchase mulching lawnmowers or retrofit mowers and leave doors and windows from grass clippings on lawn construction companies to Buy a chipper to turn tree and shrub clippings into mulch practice forced entry. After reuse Compost landscaping waste on-site the county recycled most of the Use concentrated cleaners door and window materials. Reuse Send used air filters from heavy equipment and vehicles to be cleaned and reconditioned Replace disposable filters for outside air or circulating systems The Tennessee Department with reusable filters of Correction conserved more 4 than 13 tons of textiles by Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998 Update. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, p.47-51, 1999. repairing inmate clothing. SELECTED GOALS 13
Use old linens, which are no longer presentable, as rags for the remainder of their useful life The City of Clifton, New Repair and reuse metal skids instead of scrapping and replacing Jersey, salvaged more than 400 Refill cleaning product containers tons of street sweepings to use Use old newspapers as mulch as landfill cover. Clean and reuse rags, gloves, and mop heads Donate excess building materials to local low-income housing developers Reuse trash can liners or eliminate their use where possible Establish a “user-review team” to examine reuse opportunities Disneyland Resort purchased and reduce waste generation during maintenance operations furniture, including benches, picnic tables, and kraft tables, RECYCLING COLLECTION made from 100 percent recycled Purchase equipment to improve the collection of recyclables HDPE plastic for its outdoor guest Build a storage shed for recyclables areas. Add an employee drop-off center for recyclables Recycle collected waste concrete and porcelain for road construction Work with building management to initiate or expand recycling programs for various materials Los Angeles Department of Promote recycling within company office space and to the Water and Power, in California, building owner conserved more than 6 tons of building and construction BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED materials, including carpeting and Purchase flooring materials with recycled-content office supplies, by reusing or Increase purchase of recycled-content products in the bathroom, such as toilet paper and paper towels donating these materials through Use compost as a top soil amendment the building's remodeling salvage Increase purchase of retread tires program. Use postconsumer, recycled-content janitorial supplies Purchase curbing and parking bumpers made with recycled- content plastic Purchase recycling bins made with recycled-content plastic King County, Washington, Department of Natural Resources constructed its King Street Center with concrete lobby tiles made with chips of 100 percent recycled glass. 14 SELECTED GOALS General WasteWise Goals U.S. Postal Service – Northeast Area started a asteWise partners implement a number of waste "Country Store" that reused 120 reduction activities on an organizationwide basis. tons of equipment from 382 post WThese efforts range from conducting employee offices in one district. education campaigns to developing techniques to measure waste reduction and instituting waste reduction policies that cover all employees. Management can use organizationwide initiatives to establish and communicate a commitment to waste reduction that
Bank of America reconditioned empowers employees to act, such as issuing a formal environmental policy statement that includes waste reduction as an essential and reissued 74,930 pieces of element. Organizationwide efforts to reduce waste can also foster a surplus furniture and 25,470 feeling of pride in the workplace as employees work collectively to pieces of office equipment, saving improve their environment. Examples of organizationwide activities nearly $28 million. initiated by WasteWise partners are detailed below.
WASTE PREVENTION
Constellation Energy Group Reduce Establish a waste reduction policy donated 27 tons of computers Offer online newspapers to employees and electronic equipment for Post organization-wide memos rather than distributing paper reuse through its computer copies to each employee donation program. Distribute corporate telephone directories and manuals electronically Communicate with customers and employees using e-mail Eliminate quarterly reports by putting information on a toll-free phone line Seattle University's Surplus Avoid outdated letterhead by installing company letterhead on Store sold 71 tons of surplus employees’ computers goods such as tables, Remove organization name from bulk mailing lists Post employee forms, organization announcements, and blackboards, computer newsletters to Intranet equipment, and desks to community members, saving nearly $24,000 and using the revenues to support its recycling program. SELECTED GOALS 15
Reuse Motorola collected 103 tons of Donate old magazines and journals to hospitals, clinics, or libraries used computers, cell phones, Reuse corrugated moving boxes internally electronic equipment, furniture, Rent reusable boxes for office moves and office supplies to be donated Donate unwanted supplies to local schools or non-profit to schools and charities where organizations possible and otherwise recycled. Develop an informal waste exchange with other organizations Develop an electronic bulletin board to facilitate reuse of materials and equipment Advertise surplus and reusable waste items through a Alden Central School commercial waste exchange implemented a comprehensive Educate waste reduction program at all Eliminate paper training manuals for new employees and install campus buildings, including the computer-based learning centers grounds. Publicize waste prevention activities through a new or existing employee newsletter Create green teams to brainstorm waste prevention activities First National Bank and Trust Include waste prevention information in new employee orientations Company expanded PC-based Develop an educational video for employees on elements of reports, manuals, and procedures your organization’s waste prevention program to reduce paper usage by more Conduct waste reduction contests among divisions with prizes than 4 tons. This activity included and publicity developing personnel status Train employees in waste reduction techniques Promote the WasteWise program to other organizations reports and interactive forms on the network and Internet.
Measure Require each site to periodically report on waste prevention, recycling, and cost avoidance PARI Innovative Establish a solid waste measurement and reporting program to Manufacturers introduced a evaluate the success of waste prevention efforts companywide "waste awareness" Conduct waste audits to determine waste composition program, presenting the advantages of waste reduction and recycling during a company meeting and asking every employee to sign a commitment signifying their interest and participation. 16 SELECTED GOALS
RECYCLING COLLECTION The Coca-Cola Company Centralize collection of all recyclables provided a major boost to the Establish an inter-departmental recycling committee buy-recycled market by spending Educate employees on recycling correctly, emphasizing $2 billion on recycled-content contamination issues products. Institute a policy of not emptying employees’ trash cans if they contain recyclables Purchase plain paper fax machines so faxes are recyclable Schlegel Systems expanded its Formally track recycling activities using a current accounting recycling program to include system monthly tours and inspections of Acquire a compactor or baler to expand your recycling program all areas to ensure employees are Research potential markets for recyclables recycling. Make an on-line report available to all facilities comparing trash and recycling goals to actual results Promote recycling through an employee suggestion system Stoneyfield Farm instituted an Save office newspapers and cans for local recycling programs employee bonus plan based on Increase recycling education and outreach programs in the material use reduction. community BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED The Clorox Company shared Invite organization purchasing agents to all recycling meetings waste prevention information and Print documents, such as newsletters and annual reports, on results with employees and recycled-content paper recognized the best waste Continually review the recycled content in all products management strategies at its purchased Set purchasing policy to favor recycled-content products, such facilities. as price preference Educate and promote the use of recycled-content paper to customers The U.S. Postal Service- Investigate “closed loop” programs, whereby an organization Alabama District implemented purchases products made from their own collected materials, several innovative programs to such as plastic trash bags made from company waste plastics improve its electronic Research new products with recycled content communications and tracking methods. These actions conserved 66 tons of paper through electronic routing of documents, electronic time sheets and forms, online reporting, and electronic document scanning.