Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
I S
M O R E
A Guide To Reducing
Waste & Improving Profits
Produced by the
St. Louis - Jefferson Solid
Waste Management District
L E S S I S M O R E
e?
ast
That’s No President dives into boxes. After several such experiences,
Small Potatoes! dumpster . . . the warehouse manager purchased
cin re
Frito-Lay, the nation’s second The president of a large chain a vertical baler and implemented
gW
largest producer of industrial of clothing stores would period- a cardboard recycling program.
edu I Ca
potato starch, collects the ically take his warehouse man- The program saved over two
starch from sliced potatoes as ager out to the trash dumpsters thousand dollars in reduced
they are washed, dries the and begin removing cardboard trash pick-ups, generated
starch, and then sells it to boxes from the dumpster. thousands of dollars in
industrial manufacturers. Invariably they would find revenue from the card-
ut R uld
clothing in “supposedly” empty board, salvaged con-
In addition to recovering siderable savings
almost 20 million pounds of from internal theft,
starch annually, Frito-Lay sells and saved the
20 million pounds of wet
solids (such as potato
peelings and cracked corn
Abo Sho
warehouse
managers
job.
kernels) to U.S. livestock and
dairy farms for use as a feed
y
Americans
supplement. threw away enough
Wh
3
Why Should I Care About Reducing Waste ?
There are
several
LOWER DISPOSAL COSTS
By reducing the size of the waste container and/or BULK
advantages
reducing the number of times it is removed or emp-
tied, waste hauling costs can be greatly lowered. REUSABLE
SUPPLIES
to reducing,
reusing, or
LOWER COSTS BY BUYING IN BULK
OR USING MINIMAL PACKAGING
MORALE
recycling
Encouraging suppliers to reduce packaging on incoming
materials, and buying in bulk quantities, can save on
RECYCLED
PRODUCTS
purchasing costs, labor costs and disposal costs.
your organi- DONATION
zation’s LOWER COSTS BY PROGRAMS
waste.
REUSING PRODUCTS AND SUPPLIES
By purchasing reusable supplies and materials a
business can significantly reduce waste and save money
CO
on future purchases.
MP
REDUCE DISPOSAL COSTS
BY PARTICIPATING IN DONATION PROGRAMS
By giving unneeded supplies or equipment to non-
OS
profit organizations you can improve your organiza-
tions public image, obtain tax credits, and avoid the
cost of disposal for those items.
TI
RECEIVE REVENUE
FROM RECOVERED MATERIALS
NG
DURABLE
The markets for “recyclable” materials have dramatical- EQUIPMENT
ly improved. You may be throwing away some valuable
commodities that could generate cash. REVENUE
PUBLIC
RELATIONS
4
SAVE MONEY INTERNAL THEFT PREVENTION
BY PURCHASING DURABLE EQUIPMENT Many materials and products “stolen” internally leave
Purchasing and maintaining good quality equipment the facility via the trash. By reducing the trash flow,
can save on future equipment needs and save the internal theft can be controlled more effectively.
disposal fees to haul off the old equipment.
I Ge
c
Residents
and businesses in
Missouri threw away
over eleven billion
pounds of trash in
t
1995.
6
Recycled Silver There are 1: OBTAIN SUPPORT FROM TOP MANAGEMENT
Medallions Show For your waste reduction program to be successful
Management Support: two very there needs to be strong and vocal approval of top
Custom Printing in Owensville, management. This will send a clear message to all
important employees that your organization is truly committed
MO has an effective and com-
to reducing, reusing and recycling waste.
prehensive waste reduction things you
program. This program has Throughout the program, company management
saved Custom Printing over a must do should support the waste reduction effort by endors-
million dollars in avoided dis- ing program goals, communicating the importance of
posal costs and revenue from before you reducing waste within the organization, and encourag-
the recovered materials. One ing and rewarding employee commitment and partici-
begin pation.
of the materials that is recy-
cled is silver from their photo- reducing There are a variety of experts available to help “sell”
graphic process. Management top management on the benefits of a waste reduction
decided to use that “waste” your trash program. The list of government agencies in the back
material to make solid silver pocket of this manual would be an excellent starting
medallions for each of the and start place if you would like this type of assistance.
company’s employees. The
saving The example set by a number of highly successful
medallions were given out at
organizations committed to reducing waste is also
the company’s 25th anniver- money. helpful in convincing management. The commitment
sary as a “thank you” for the made by the McDonald’s Corporation on page 9 is
employees efforts in waste an excellent example of such a commitment.
reduction.
7
How Do I Get A Waste Reduction Program Started?
Organizations that lease or rent space must also have the sup-
port from, and work with, their building management. The reduction
coordinator will need to meet with the building management and custo-
dial staff early in the planning stage. Your waste reduction efforts will have a direct
impact on their operations.
TOP
INVOLVE
MANAGEMENT
SELECT
COORDINATOR
8
McDonald’s Corporation:
Our Commitment to the Environment
for future generations. This responsibility leader as well. Hence, our determination to
is derived from our unique relationship analyze every aspect of our business in
whose quality of life tomorrow will be and to take actions beyond what is expect-
affected by our stewardship of the environ- ed if they hold the prospect of leaving
ment today. We share their belief that the future generations an environmentally
right to exist in an environment of clean sound world. We will lead, both in word
aste
l e c t i n g A Waste r e th e a m ount of w
ga-
Se o rdinato ed to redu
c
cted to or
io n C o l d e c id w a s s e le
Reduct yatt Regen
cy Ho te
eeping m
anage r
e H u s e k bles.
Four year
sa g o , th
fi ll . A fo rme r h o
t o u tl e ts for recycla
land marke
t to Chicago’s e y potential d
bein g s e n
r o g r a m s an d s u r v
o f w a s te s generate
ction p type s
nize colle n d e rstood the ste.
a n a g e r alre a d y u
a m s a n d recycle wa
eping m effective p
rogr
th e houseke lo p sist
In this c a s e ,
d w a s a b le to d e v e
, w a s fo r med to as
hotel an idiary
within the tt C o r p o r ation subs
a Hya
l R ecycle Co., rams.
e s u lt , In te rn a ti o n a
a s te r e d u ction prog
As a r ith w
s p it a li ty industry w
the h o
9
? ren
t
Cur ost?
My C
oes gram
at D Pro
Wh ste
Wa
10
Do you need One of the Look at the purchasing practices.
everything you Everything your organization buys either goes into a
purchase? tasks for your product or service, or is thrown away.
disposal
practices.
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
90 91 92 93 94 95
= Increase in Cost per Cubic Yard
11
What Does My Current Waste Program Cost?
How and when is waste picked up? 1. Is pricing based on volume or weight?
Who is responsible for taking the trash out? 2. What size trash dumpster(s) do you currently use?
How does it move through the building? 3. What is the frequency of pick-up?
Are there any recycling programs in place now? 4. Are the dumpsters full when picked up?
12
A Better
Way To
If an aver Purge A
age file ca File Cab
b in inet . . .
and the ca e t drawer h
binet has olds abou
thrown aw five drawe t 100 han
ay for eac rs, then a ging folde
adds up to h purged b o u t 5 0 0 rs,
$250 wor cabinet. A folders wo
another $ th of othe t a cost of u ld be
50 worth rwise reus $.50 each
file cabine o f reusable a b le hangin , th at
t. manila file g folders.
fo lders, for A d d
If that doe a total of
sn’t seem $300 per
Office of G like much
eneral Se to you, co
folders ea rvices’ “3R nsider this
ch month! ’s” Progra : In 1988,
m recover the New Y
ed betwee ork State
n 3,000 a
nd 4,000
file
13
sh?
Tra
My
at’s In
Wh
14
Unless you’re Talk to the Janitorial staff -
The people who work with the trash each day should
working with
know the make-up of your waste. They may also have
some helpful ideas on how to reduce it.
your trash every
Look at other organizations similar to yours -
day, you proba-
The chart on page 17 shows the normal waste disposal
bly don’t know percentages for certain industries. If your organization
fits closely with one of these you may have similar
what is thrown waste generation characteristics.
determine the
Per Employee, Per Day Waste Generation
composition Rates for Selected Business Classifications
and volume of
lbs.
your waste.
20
1.13 Finance, Insurance & Real Estate
15
10
2.47 Government
4.76 Services
15
What’s In My Trash?
Finance, Insurance and Real Estate Manufacturing
11.47% Other
7.07% Food
3.80% Glass
4.25% Metals
7.83% Plastics
31.04% Corrugated The
number
34.73% Paper
of landfills in the U.S. has
been reduced from 8,000
in 1988 to less than 4,000
in 1995.
16
Worksheet 1
Waste Collection
1. Name and phone number of waste hauler:
2. Container size:
3. Average percent fullness:
4..Collection frequency (daily, twice, weekly, etc.):
5..Volume of waste per month (#2 x #3 x #4) =
If waste is compacted, multiply by 450:______ =pounds of waste per month
If waste is not compacted, multiply by 200:______ =pounds of waste per month
6. Cost of service: $______/week. $______/month, or $______/
Recycling Collection
1. Name and phone number of recycling provider:
2. Materials collected in the program:
3. Container size:
4. Collection frequency:
5. Pounds of recyclables per month (from Service Provider’s Records)
6. Cost of service: $______/week. $______/month, or $______/
7. Revenues received from the sale of recyclable materials:
17
Wa
ste
Ass
Wh ent
Worldwide,
ess
18
Do a formal Waste Assessment -
This can get fairly technical but it’s not rocket science. There are some forms to
conduct your waste assessment on page 20 and in the back pocket. Just follow the
instructions and realize that this is not an exact science. Even the highest priced
consultants can’t tell you exactly what is in your waste.
Whichever method you use always ask yourself the same questions.
If you feel that your organization is too complex or too large to conduct your own
in-house waste assessment, your regional solid waste district or one of the other
organizations listed in the back pocket may be able to provide on-site technical
assistance.
When Lo
oking F
or Wast
High volu
mes of pa e...
per are oft
en genera
How man ted near c
y newspap opy mach
e ines and p
receives th r subscrip rinters.
em? This tions does
can tell yo your comp
u where o any have
For source ld newspr and who
s of corrug in t m ay be fou
ated card nd.
board, fin
d out whe
re supplie
s are unp
acked.
19
Worksheet 3A - Waste Sort
Column A Column B Column C
Material Weight of Material Percent of Total
Corrugated Cardboard
Office Paper
Newsprint
Other Paper
Aluminum
Steel/Bi-Metal Containers
PET plastic (#1)
HDPE Plastic (#2)
Other Plastic
Glass
Wood
Food Waste
Other (Specify)
TOTAL 100%
20
$$$ $ $
ste? y
Wa one
The bigger the Simple ideas
company the bigger can save money too...
the savings... Taylor Equipment Co.
Johnson & Johnson began a purchased a paper shredder
M
waste reduction program in for $250 and replaced foam
1988. One strategy was to packing peanuts with shred-
reduce the weight of paper. ded waste paper from the
$ $ $$ $ uci ave
Simply by changing from 30 office. This saves the company
pound to 28 pound paper they over $2000 per year in
reduced their waste by 115 reduced waste disposal and
tons per year. Combined with avoided purchase costs for the
Red l I S
reduced paper costs their packing peanuts.
ng
savings on that decision alone
was $450,000 annually.
By Wil
Trash to feedstocks...
Versa Tag Inc. in Cuba, MO
purchased a plastic grinder.
$ $ $ $$
Now they return their ground
How
plastic to their supplier Some
where it is re-extruded capital
into plastic sheets and expenditures, such as a
baler, can yield impres-
returned to Versa Tag. sive savings over the long
Versa tag has saved several term. Many collection
thousand dollars on reduced services will place a baler
at your property in return
disposal costs and revenue for a percentage of
from the ground plastic. recycling revenue.
$$ $ $ $ 21
How Will I Save Money By Reducing Waste?
$
Double sided copies will reduce the amount of paper
gotten a good purchased and discarded.
idea of what your Copy files on computer disk instead of making paper
documents for storage in file cabinets.
present waste
Buying in bulk can reduce packaging.
system is costing
Work with suppliers to reduce unnecessary packaging.
and what is in
Purchase durable equipment and supplies that last
your trash. Now
longer and need less replacement.
it’s time to look at
22
Recycling Strategies:
Determine what materials within your waste are
recyclable and look for a market for these materials.
$
aluminum cans for the same
is a sufficient outside area.
amount of energy it takes to
Yard maintenance contracts can be reduced if grass make one can out of
clippings are left on the lawn and leaves are mulched. aluminum ore.
$
17 trees
7,000 gallons of water
4,100 kwh of electricity
3 cu. yds landfill space
23
Worksheet 4 - Waste Reduction Program Cost Savings
Start-Up Costs
Containers $__________
Equipment (if any) $__________
Other $__________
24
les?
clab
e R Do
ecy
h th ll I
Wit t Wi
a
Wh
Recyclables
such as aluminum cans
can be donated to chari-
ties or organizations
working on charitable
causes. Your staff or their
families may be working
with such groups.
25
What Will I Do With the Recyclables?
reusing, and Will any special equipment be needed to collect and transport the materials?
composting your
Available storage space -
waste, you can shift How much space is available for storing recyclables and how much space will each
material require?
your attention to
Will the storage of these materials comply with local fire codes?
recycling.
Are any improvements needed for storage of the materials?
26
Marketing Your Waste Materials:
The next step is finding a “market” for your recyclable material. There are different
types of markets depending on the quality and quantity of the material you’ve
removed from your trash. The list on the next page gives a definition of each type
of market.
You’ll be making a lot of decisions about your materials. The following pages may
be helpful is sorting out some of those decisions.
27
What Will I Do With the Recyclables?
End Users utilize Plastics There are seven basic resin types and markets exists
recyclables as feedstocks to for most resins if there is sufficient quantity.
make products. For example,
a paper mill may use office Textiles and Rags There are several grades but recyclers
paper waste to make tissue will allow some mixing.
products.
Markets also exist for more specialized industrial scrap
materials.
28
12
y T ste
?
ime
Office Facts...
a
ll o g W
One person uses two pine
trees worth of paper each
year.
e A ucin
Six billion pens are thrown
fM
away each year.
Tak Red
year.
9
Buy white legal pads instead
of yellow ones to take advan-
tage of the strong market for
l
recycling white office paper.
Wil
6
Every year
Americans use almost
23,000 square miles of
toilet paper each year.
29
Will Reducing Waste Take All of My Time?
After talking to a
KEEP
variety of recycling
IT
companies about
S H O RT AN D
3
marketing your
recyclables you
S I M P LE
may be asking
remember one
important principle:
The Bes
t Paper
Contain
Cardboard er is Fre
soda trays e and R
fit undern and box to ecycled
eath a de ps from su
ers for ev sk and eli p plies (e.g.,
ery emplo minate th folder box
yee. e need to tops) easil
purchase y
Tray- shap r e c y c ling conta
ed recyclin in-
and disco g containe
easier and urage em r s are not lik
transporta ployees fr ely to be
tion to a m o m c r umpling p mistaken
arket mor aper into for trash c
e efficient. balls, mak ontainers
ing separ
ation
30
Here are some tips that should
The simpler you can keep the Work with the janitorial staff.
program the more cooperation Decide how to get the materials from
you will get from your fellow the collection centers to the storage
employees. areas. Getting the janitorial staff to
Your best market may be the one that “buy in” to the waste reduction plan
allows you to mix grades, even if the will be a real key in determining the
Stackable recycling bins can be success of your program.
price they pay for that “service” is less.
employed to capture recoverable
Provide each employee materials at their source: an Make recycling as easy for
with a container at their own employee lounge, cafeteria, everyone as possible.
work station. common work area, etc. For example, recycling containers do
These don’t have to be fancy or not need to be emptied until they are
expensive (see “Bright Idea” on full (there’s no garbage in them so
opposite page). they shouldn’t smell).
l l y, d o n’t let
Fina e t h e tail
g b
recyclin the dog.
gs
that wa re d uction
s t e
The wa hould
s
program ur company,
yo
benefit r it!
de
not hin
A bottle crusher mounted atop a
55 gallon drum can be used on
site to reduce glass volume.
31
The key to almost
Co-
your organization
Wo
begins is
How s To
EDUCATION and
rke
the waste
reduction program
r
is no exception.
Wil Redu
l I C ce
onv Was
inc te?
eM
Americans
recycle about 10% of their
trash. Europeans recycle
up to 60% of theirs.
y
32
Before starting the program: Management:
Create attractive signs or posters describing the new
waste reduction program; when it will start and how it Present the program to management being sure to list
will work. the benefits and potential monetary savings.
Create signs for the collection bins stating what should Set a date that you intend to evaluate the program and
be put in each bin. let them know you will be reporting the results to
them at that time.
Develop a “do and don’t” list of what can and cannot
be recycled. Remember the KISS principle. Ensure their support and try to recruit a member of
the management team to be present when you present
Seek out employees who are enthusiastic about recy- the program to the employees.
cling in the early planning stages. These individuals
can help in building support among their peers.
Present
ations s
The comp hould a
any ’s goa ddress
l. the foll
Planned c owing..
ompany-w .
Changes in id e actions
procedure to meet th
Waste red s required at goal.
uction tips to reduce
Materials . waste.
targeted fo
Collection r r ecycling
A suggeste plans for
d list of “D th o s e materia
How the m o’s" and “ ls.
aterials w D o n ’ts” for sa
Informati ill be proc ving those
on about essed and materials
Informati whom to th eir end us .
on about c o ntact with e .
Recognitio managem questions
n that the ent ’s role .
p r o and suppo
Purchasin g ram will p rt for the
g changes robably e program.
to reduce xpand an
waste. d change
in the futu
re.
33
Employees:
Employee Participation
Present the program to the employees in groups small and Incentives...
enough to ask questions. To achieve a successful waste
reduction program all
Talk about why the organization is trying to reduce
employees must be willing
waste and state the benefits of the waste reduction
program. to participate. Incentive
programs may provide the
Let the employees know that management has spark for this participation.
endorsed the program. Try to have someone from The following incentives may be
management present to say a few words. appropriate for your business:
Emphasize that reduction and recycling is part of The department with the most
every employees job. If an employee is resistant to the recyclables collected get an
concept of recycling don’t try to “brow beat” them extra break with doughnuts
into submission. State that the program is voluntary provided by the company.
and peer pressure will usually do the rest.
The employee who collects the
Keep the presentation short, don’t preach, and leave
enough time for questions. You probably won’t have most cans and bottles during
all the answers (no one does) so don’t be afraid to say, a specific time period gets a
“I don’t know, but I’ll try to find out.” case of their favorite beverage.
34
Do?
I
Can
Else
Americans
earned over a billion
at
dollars by recycling
aluminum cans during
the ’80s.
Wh
35
What Else Can I Do?
36
Buying recycled products can be difficult and confusing
at times. Recycled content percentages and claims by
some manufacturers can be misleading, so here are a
few guidelines:
37
I
Can e
t
How Was ?
The ram
ent rog
lem on P
Imp ucti
Red
38
1 7
OBTAIN SUPPORT FROM TOP MANAGEMENT EDUCATE MANAGEMENT
For your waste reduction program to be successful AND EMPLOYEES ABOUT THE PROGRAM
there needs to be strong and vocal approval of top Emphasize the potential benefits of the program and
management. the responsibilities each person has to make it work
correctly.
2
SELECT A WASTE REDUCTION COORDINATOR 8
Once support from top management has been secured, ENCOURAGE THE PURCHASING OF PRODUCTS
the next step is identifying someone who will imple- MADE FROM RECOVERED MATERIALS
ment the program. Buying recycled products and supplies will complete
the cycle and save your organization money.
3
DETERMINE CURRENT 9
PURCHASING AND DISPOSAL PRACTICES BEGIN THE REDUCTION PROGRAM
Establish a baseline for future comparisons. Just Do It!
4 10
IDENTIFY THE VOLUME MONITOR AND EVALUATE
AND COMPOSITION OF YOUR TRASH THE WASTE REDUCTION PROGRAM
A variety of in-house methods are available as well as Provide management and employees with reports on
technical assistance from your regional solid waste financial and environmental savings which have resulted
management district, and other groups listed on the from the program.
technical assistance list. 11
LOOK FOR WAYS TO IMPROVE
5
AND ENLARGE THE PROGRAM TO REDUCE
IDENTIFY INITIAL STRATEGIES TO BEGIN WASTES AND INCREASE SAVINGS.
REDUCING WASTES
Search for, and accept ideas from co-workers to make
Select the waste reduction strategies which will the program better.
produce the greatest cost savings.
6
DESIGN THE COLLECTION, PROCESSING, AND
MARKETING PROCEDURES THAT BEST SUIT
YOUR ORGANIZATION’S NEEDS
Lay out a plan which is simple and will receive the
greatest employee participation.
39
How Can I Implement
The Waste Reduction Program?
ACTIVITY MONTH
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12
2. Select a Waste
Management
Reduction Coordinator
3. Determine current
purchasing and
disposal practices
7. Educate management
and employees about
the program
40
ng?
Intangible
savings of your waste
rki
reduction program...
Over time, the employees who Reducing the amount of waste
have been trained to continu- going out of your facility will
Wo
ally reduce and avoid waste, lessen the possibility that
will develop a waste wise valuable merchandise is
mentality and save your orga- discarded via the trash.
nization the cost of buying
Is
excess materials and unneces- Buying recycled products pro-
wI lI
sary disposal costs. motes the recycling cycle and
f It
will eventually provide lower
Kno Wil
Waste reduction offers prices for these products, as
employees a break from the well as stabilizing the prices
daily duties and instills a for the materials you recycle.
sense of reward in that their
How
efforts will benefit the organi-
zation, the community,
and the environment.
41
How Will I Know If It Is Working?
$
The success of your Tangible savings:
Those to which you can attach a numerical value.
waste reduction They are literally the sum of the savings less the cost
of the program. It is important to set up an account-
program is often ing system which tracks the following:
measured by Savings:
Savings in monthly disposal costs. Negotiate lower
comparing rates with your waste hauler and be sure to use current
$
disposal rates to reflect your true savings.
“before” and
Revenue from the sale of recovered materials.
“after” disposal
Savings from avoided purchases which were identified
costs. as not needed.
Intangible savings:
Program benefits which cannot be easily identified or
quantified, and therefore, are often overlooked.
Nevertheless, these intangible savings may play an
important role in the overall productivity of your
organization. The list on the previous page describes
some of those benefits.
42
Report on the Make your reporting as graphic as possible. For instance, if your office recycled 10
tons of paper the third quarter of the program your report might look something
progress of the like this:
waste reduction During the third quarter of the waste reduction program the following revenues
and costs were incurred:
program to both
Revenues: QTR YTD
management and
Avoided disposal fees $60 $150
employees Sale of 10 tons of recycled office paper $200 $400
Sale of aluminum can $22 $50
regularly. 2 sided copying saved
10 boxes of paper @ $15 per box $150 $250
Avoided purchase of styrofoam coffee cups $40 $100
The waste reduction program will take some effort but the rewards can be very sig-
nificant. Remember the KISS principle, call for assistance when needed, and then, as
the commercial says:
D O I T !
J U S T
43
Commonly Asked Questions
Businesses Why should I Begin a Waste Reduction Program?
Participation in a recycling program can help to keep refuse collection costs lower,
undoubtedly conserve resources, and provide positive publicity. For example, one ton of recycled
paper saves 17 trees. Also, demonstrating a company’s environmental commitment
have concerns will foster goodwill in the community among its employees, and customers.
about designing
What is the Company’s role in the Program?
and implementing A successful waste reduction program is built upon the active involvement of the
company’s management and employees. Try to involve employees early in the devel-
a waste reduction opment of the program. This way employees can contribute their input and feed-
back into the development of the new program. It is also important to educate
program. This them as to why the company is making a commitment to waste reduction. Finally,
the company should recruit willing employees to form an environmental committee
section of the and identify the most appropriate company waste reduction coordinator.
manual addresses
What Activities May Be Necessary to Initially Set Up the Program?
many common
Initial activities for a recycling program include designing the collection processing
concerns and and storage system in conjunction with the building’s maintenance staff, negotiating
hauler and recycling service provider contracts, developing an education program,
questions facing procuring necessary containers and equipment, and notifying employees of the program.
businesses that are How Much Work Will Waste Reduction Involve?
considering The level of work involved will depend on the type of waste reduction program
adopted. For instance, requiring employees to separate four grades of paper,
implementing aluminum, and glass is more labor intensive than offering a mixed paper bin that
targets only three types of paper. Various material collection scenarios should be
waste reduction developed for consideration. Recycling programs should be designed to be as con-
venient as possible. Delegating more tasks to maintenance staff, such as emptying
measures. desk-side containers into central collection containers, will result in more conve-
nience and greater participation, but may also add to operating costs. The simpler
the program is the better.
44
More Commonly Asked Questions
Will This Cause Messy, Unsightly Areas, Attract Pests, or Cause Unpleasant Odors?
Recycling programs should have regular material collection to ensure that materials do not sit out long enough to
become messy or to attract pests. Employees and the maintenance staff should be educated to keep normal stor-
age areas neat and orderly. The program should be designed to be as sanitary as possible. Employees must take
some responsibility to prepare materials such as rinsing glass or metal containers before placing them in recycling
containers.
What Will the Program Cost? How Can the Costs Be Reduced?
Program costs can include the expenditures for hauler/recycling provider services, additional maintenance services,
containers/equipment, educational materials, and employee time devoted to planning and implementing the pro-
gram. Suggestions for reducing program costs include:
Go out for competitive bids. Find the most cost-effective hauler and/or
recycling service provider that can meet your needs.
Find interested volunteers to develop the program and ensure low contami-
nation and high recyclable recovery.
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More Commonly Asked Questions
46
This guide book was produced by the St. Louis-Jefferson
Solid Waste Management District. The St. Louis-Jefferson
Solid Waste Management District is an inter-governmental
organization dedicated to expanding waste reduction and
recycling in the City of St. Louis, St. Louis County and
Jefferson County, Missouri.
Missouri Department
of Natural Resources
Contributors
David Berger St. Louis-Jefferson Solid Waste
Management District
Clayton, Missouri
Dennis Siders Waste Reduction Strategies
Fredricktown, Missouri
Lee Fox The Fox Group
Environmental Communications
St. Louis, Missouri
James Farrell Regional Chamber and Growth
Association
St. Louis, Missouri
Design
Cher Columbus Graphic Design
PDF Conversion
Marci Donovan