Home > Small Business > Money Saving Actions > Recycle and Cut Waste

Recycle and Cut Waste

Recycling bins

Due to California's shortage of long-term landfill space, many local governments are predicting a 20% to 100% increase in disposal costs over the next few years. By reducing waste, businesses can avoid millions of dollars in disposal costs and reduce corresponding greenhouse gas emissions.

Table of Contents [hide]
    1. No-Cost Steps to Recycle & Cut Waste
      1. Reduce Office Waste
      2. Create a Reuse and Recycling Culture
    2. Plan to Recycle & Cut Waste
      1. Conduct a Waste Assessment
      2. Set Zero Waste as your Goal

No-Cost Steps to Recycle & Cut Waste

Reduce Office Waste

  • Develop a company-wide policy of photocopying on both sides of the paper.
  • Use the blank side of printed material for creating draft documents and notepads.
  • Email reports instead of making printed copies.
  • Use outdated forms and letterheads for in-house memos.
  • Post general memos in central locations or on electronic bulletin pages.
  • Encourage saving documents on disk rather than paper.

Create a Reuse and Recycling Culture

  • Establish a workplace recycling system for paper, plastics, aluminum, and glass.
  • Examine the manufacturing processes for opportunities to use materials more efficiently.
  • Rethink product packaging.
  • Consider composting food waste.
  • Participate in recycling programs for unwanted electronic equipment.
  • Rent or lease equipment, particularly from manufacturers that will take back and recycle their goods at their "end of life."

Plan to Recycle & Cut Waste

Conduct a Waste Assessment

A waste assessment is used to determine what wastes are generated in what quantities from what activities. Most garbage companies offer a free consultation on how to reduce waste and save money at your business. Call your garbage company to arrange for a site visit. Local jurisdictions may also offer free consultations and equipment (such as desk side recycling bins) to the business community.

Set Zero Waste as your Goal

A Zero Waste goal maximizes recycling, minimizes waste, reduces consumption and ensures that products are made to be reused, repaired or recycled back into the marketplace or the environment. Click here for information about how to implement a zero waste policy at your business.

Image Credit
Author: D'Arcy Norman
Source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dnorman/3314634378/
CC License: Attribution 2.0 Generic

Resources

Tell us what you think of the Small Business Toolkit! Take our survey.

  • California’s Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery

    • Business Waste Reduction Resources
      Provides answers and resources for the most common business waste issues. This site also contains fact sheets and case studies, information about office paper reduction, and the CalRecycle waste reduction and recycling posters and signs.
    • Compilation of Recycling Resources
      Find out where to recycle construction debris (e.g. asphalt, drywall or metal), plastics (e.g. acrylic, nylon, high density polyethylene (HDPE)), and low density polyethylene (LDPE)), and/or electronic waste. Locate your nearest recycling center.
    • Start a waste reduction program at your office
      Materials and assistance to help set up and operate a successful waste reduction program in your business.
    • WRAP Awards
      Provides an opportunity for California businesses to gain public recognition for their outstanding efforts to reduce waste.
    • California Materials Exchange (CalMAX)
      An online materials exchange service designed to help businesses, organizations, local governments, industry, schools, and individuals find markets for nonhazardous materials that may otherwise be discarded. "One business's trash is another business's treasure." Businesses, schools, and nonprofits can utilize CalMAX to search for available and wanted materials.

  • Earth 911
    Guide to local resources including recycling centers, how to recycle, pollution prevention and how help protect the environment.

Regional Organizations

  • LessIsMore.org is Santa Barbara County's recycling resource.

  • Stopwaste.org Small Business Resources

    • Alameda County Annual Recycling Guide
      Guide contains ways to recycle almost any type of material your business or organization generates and offers ways to dispose of and recycle hazardous wastes generated by your business.
    • Small Business Hazardous Waste Disposal Services
      If your business has leftover hazardous materials, you may be eligible for a service to safely dispose of these items at reasonable, affordable rates. Businesses that qualify as “small quantity generators” can dispose of hazardous materials safely, conveniently, and in ways that protect our environment.

National Organizations