Business Waste Reduction Tips
Every ton of recycled paper saves up to:
- 3 cubic yards of landfill space
- 4,200 kilowatt hours of electricity
- 7,000 gallons of water
- 75% of bleach
- 60 pounds of air pollutants
- 17 trees
Businesses can recycle office paper, junk mail, newspaper, and phone books at any of the 5 Orange County 24-hour Recycling Drop-off Sites. They are located at Carrboro Plaza, Wal-Mart in Hillsborough, University Mall, Cedar Falls Park and behind the Orange County Animal Shelter in Chapel Hill. Businesses are welcome to use these sites for other common recyclables such as plastic bottles, aluminum and steel cans, and corrugated cardboard so long as your business does not generate more that 50 boxes per week.
Start a business recycling program today! Have clearly marked containers (nothing fancy needed, a labeled cardboard box will do) available wherever recyclable materials are generated: paper recycling at deskside and copy areas, newspaper and magazine recycling in break rooms, aluminum cans near vending machines and trash cans. Dedicate staff (and staff time) to bring recycling to the Recycling Drop-off Site nearest you.
Businesses can reduce paper waste with double-sided copying and printing. Save paper printed on only one side and use the blank side for fax transmissions, draft copies and notes. Route messages to staff rather than making multiple copies, or better yet send emails. Dealing with unwanted mail is a big waste of time and money for businesses! Learn how to institute a business junk mail reduction program. Keep mailing lists up to date to reduce expenditures, plus you will not be part of the junk mail problem.
Close the recycling loop by purchasing products made from recycled material. Recycled paper meets or exceeds the quality of paper made from wood fiber, and pricing is competitive. Most vendor s now carry recycled paper in stock. If yours does not, ask them “Why not!” Learn more about recycled paper.
Reusing materials saves money, time and natural resources. Reuse boxes used for shipping. Save packing material and reuse that as well for shipping out products. The United States Postal Service advises that boxes to be reused should be in good condition, rigid, with all flaps intact. Any obsolete markings such as addresses, postage, or content information on a previously used container must be completely blacked out, not just x’d out or marked with a scribble. Have a “Give and Take” area such as a table or shelf available for employees where staff can leave usable (but no longer needed) items for others to pick up for free.
There are many options to recycling used toner cartridges, including often just sending them back to the manufacturer for a refund. Download an electronic copy of the Toner Cartridge Recycling Brochure, compiled by the US Council of Mayors “Recycling at Work” campaign. Purchasing refillable and recycled toner cartridges can be half the cost of newly manufactured toner cartridges.
Learn more about waste management in Orange County from The Orange County Solid Waste Management Department.