Planning Tools
Selected
Goals of
Waste Wise
Partners
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Introduction
'.-v-sSf-Wi-.;f |..;:,. i-ti MM-;; establish waste reduction goals in
/ J three areas: waste prevention, recycling, and buying or
i [ '' manufacturing recycled-content products. This guide offers
suggestions to help organizations set quantifiable, achievable goals. The
sample goals, combined with partner success stories, illustrate successful
methods for reducing waste. Partners may use the ideas in this guide as a
catalyst for developing and expanding their own WasteWise goals.
Prior to selecting waste reduction goals, WasteWise encourages
partners to conduct a waste assessment. The assessment will help
partners identify the composition and quantities of waste they generate, as
well as opportunities for reducing these wastes.
The sample goals provided in this guide have been organized into the
following function areas:
Office Setting
Cafeteria and Food Service
Distribution and Shipping of Products
Purchasing and Receiving of Products
Manufacturing and Production
Maintenance, Housekeeping, Renovation, and Landscaping
General WasteWise Goals
Additional suggestions for waste reduction goals may be found in the
industry sector fact sheets, now available on the WasteWise Web site
. The WasteWise Helpline (800 EPA-WISE) and
WasteWise representatives are also available to answer questions
regarding goal setting.
SELECTED GOALS
Waste Prevention
Waste prevention means using
less material to do the same job,
cutting waste before recycling.
Waste prevention (also called
source reduction) offers the
greatest environmental benefits
and provides substantial cost
savings to organizations.
Examples of waste prevention
activities include using e-mail,
reusing office supplies and
equipment, and reducing or
reusing transport packaging.
WasteWise partners commit to
implementing three significant
waste prevention activities.
Recyclables
Collection
WasteWise partners commit to
initiating, expanding, or improving
company programs to collect
recyclables. In some cases,
companies add new materials to
an existing program, or they
increase program efficiency
through employee education.
Purchase or
Manufacture of
Recycled Products
Nonmanufacturing WasteWise
partners commit to increasing the
overall recycled content in the
products they purchase, either by
purchasing recycled products in
lieu of virgin products or by
increasing the recycled content in
those recycled products they
already buy. Manufacturers may
either increase the percentage of
postconsumer content in the
products they make or increase
the recycled content in the
products they purchase.
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SELECTED GOALS
Electronics Challenge
In 2000, WasteWise launched the
electronics challenge to encourage
the reuse and recovery of this growing
part of the waste stream.
Partners pledged to:
Refurbish and/or upgrade existing
electronic equipment instead of
buying new equipment.
Buy remanufactured equipment
instead of new equipment.
Buy equipment with recycled
content.
Contract with suppliers to lease
electronics.
Contract with suppliers to take back
and reuse/recycle equipment as
part of new purchases.
Donate reusable electronic
equipment (e.g., to schools or other
nonprofit organizations).
Recycle equipment from your
organization that cannot be reused.
Sponsor or participate in a
collection event or program to help
others outside your organization
reuse or recycle electronic products.
Electronics manufacturers also pledged
to additional goals, including some of
the following:
Redesign an electronic product so
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.
Function Area:
Office Setting
Jill lift f!f aste from offices can account for a large percentage of
if an organization's waste stream. Most office waste
consists of various forms of paper, such as stationery,
copy paper, computer and printer paper, and cardboard. Smaller
quantities of other materials such as plastic, metal, glass, and food
waste also end up in office waste. Helpful suggestions for reducing
waste in the office setting are provided below.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
Circulate memos, documents, periodicals, and reports rather
than distributing individual copies
Keep files on diskette or microfiche
Maintain a centralized filing system
Communicate using voice or electronic mail
Purchase duplex copying machines and program copy machines
to default to duplex copies
Replace fax cover sheets with "stick-on" fax transmission
stickers or use a rubber stamp to place transmittal information
on the first pages of faxes
Conduct file transfers via computer
Survey current computer reports to identify any unnecessary
reports that could be eliminated
Seek methods to reduce printing production errors
Use smaller envelopes
Use narrow-ruled notebooks
Design brochures and advertising flyers with a mailing panel
instead of placing them in envelopes
Review, edit, and finalize reports and letters on computer screen
before printing
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SELECTED GOALS
Reuse
Purchase reusable or refillable pens and pencils
Reuse interoffice envelopes
Convert scrap paper into telephone answering pads or scratch
pads
Print drafts on the blank sides of used paper
Use an erasable memo or chalk board for messages
Reuse office supplies through internal waste exchange
Repair old furniture and office equipment or donate it to
charitable organizations
Reuse file folders and ring binders
Return laser printer and copier toner cartridges for
remanufacturing
RECYCLING COLLECTION
Place a recycling bin in each office
Recycle glass, aluminum, and plastic beverage containers
Suspend the use of colored paper if not easily recycled
Establish "clean out your office" days and recycle items no
longer needed
Locate paper recycling containers near copiers, printers, and
other large generators
Recycle audio and video cassette tapes
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Purchase recycled-content office supplies
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
minimum requirements for postconsumer content
Commit to printing the organization's annual report on paper
collected through organization recycling programs
Purchase transparencies made from recycled PET
Kinko's, Inc. leases 92 percent
of its copiers and printers and 82
percent of its computers and
finishing equipment, which
lessens the environmental burden
associated with end-of-life
electronics equipment.
Blue Lake Rancheria tribe
conserved 40 pounds of printer
paper by reusing single-sided
copies for draft printouts and in
the fax machine.
Amtrak saved $3,000 and
eliminated 500 pounds of waste
by beginning a toner refill
program.
Southern California Edison
purchased more than 45 tons of
recycled-content products,
including 2,500 chairs with 100
percent recycled content.
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SELECTED GOALS
Sandia National
Laboratories prevented 209
tons of solid waste by switching
to reusable cafeteria dishware,
saving the federal facility
approximately $22,000 in 2000.
The Los Angeles Unified
School District began an "offer
versus serve" program in which
students can choose the food
they would like to consume,
preventing an estimated 13,646
tons of food waste.
The Walt Disney World
Company, located in Orlando,
Florida, donated 200 tons of
prepared food to the Second
Harvest Food Bank.
California Integrated Waste
Management Board
composted 1.5 tons of food waste
in vermicomposting bins located
outside of the cafeteria.
Function Area: Cafeteria
and Food Service
here are a full range of waste reduction activities that
f. cafeteria and food service operators can implement to help
- reduce the amount of solid waste they generate. For
example, food waste can largely be reduced through proper
purchasing, handling, preparation, and storage. (Generation of food
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
below highlights many of the activities WasteWise partners have
initiated to reduce food service wastes.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
Purchase food items in bulk containers
Replace individual soda cans or bottles with bulk dispensers
Replace plastic coffee stirs with wooden stirs that can be
composted
Reduce plastic by using straw-style stir sticks for bar
beverages instead of solid style sticks
Reduce plastic wrap used with catering orders
Provide condiments in bulk dispensers
Give customers the option of straw or no straw with beverages
Decrease weight of carry-out bags
Purchase a new kind of butter to eliminate the foil wrapper
Reuse
Use durable towels, tablecloths, napkins, dishes, flatware, cups,
and glasses
Reduce use of disposable cups by retrofitting drink vending
machines to accept reusable plastic mugs
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.
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SELECTED GOALS
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
Encourage customers to take home surplus food
Initiate a vermi-composting system to compost vegetative
materials
Hire caterers who use reusable kitchenware
Provide a discount to customers who bring their own mugs
Purchase company mugs for all employees
RECYCLING COLLECTION
Recycle milk cartons and juice boxes
Segregate cafeteria wastes (paper, plastics, and aluminum) to
improve recycling
Collect plastic silverware for recycling
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
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Switch to napkins with recycled content
Increase purchase of recycled-content paper for food service
Purchase carry-out containers with recycled content
Pitney Bowes, Inc.
implemented a program to recycle
polystyrene products used in food
service. The company converts
polystyrene into a
gel-like material and then returns
it to the recycling-equipment
vendor for further processing
back into polystyrene or other
plastic products. This process
resulted in a 40 percent reduction
of total trash volume.
WasteWise Update, Recovering
Organic Wastes-Giving Back
to Mother Nature,
(EPA530-N-99-007) highlights a
number of organic waste
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.
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SELECTED GOALS
Transport Packaging
Challenge
In 1999 WasteWise launched the
Transport Packaging (TP)
Challenge. Partners pledged to
eliminate unnecessary TP, switch
to reusable TP, and reuse
incoming packaging for outgoing
shipments. The most common
goal of Challenge participants
was to work with suppliers to
reduce TP, reflecting the
importance of building
partnerships to
reduce waste.
The Transport Packaging
Challenge Partner of the Year
was SST Truck Company, a
Texas-based truck manufacturer.
It utilized reusable shipping
racks, worked with its suppliers to
reduce packaging for incoming
truck parts, and started a return
program for TP, saving the
company $55,000 and preventing
180 tons of waste in 1999. In all,
47 partners participated in the
Challenge, but SST Truck
Company drove to the top.
Function Area:
Distribution and Shipping
of Products
,:, - ontainers and packaging represent nearly one-third of the
X total municipal solid waste stream nationwide (71.8 million
:" - tons of generation in 1997).2 Approximately half of this
waste comes from packaging materials used to transport goods.
Transport packaging consists of materials such as corrugated,
ferrous metals, plastics, and wood. The list below highlights some of
the innovative strategies WasteWise partners have initiated to
reduce wastes associated with the distribution and shipping of
products.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
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,
making a complete, new catalog unnecessary
Improve mailing list so a more accurate number of catalogs are
printed
Reduce the thickness of cardboard used in packaging material
Reduce the size of internal packaging inserts
Redesign product packaging to decrease the amount of
materials necessary to package the product
Eliminate unnecessary packaging, such as outer cartons
Reuse
Use reusable air-filled bags in shipping cartons instead of
polystyrene "peanuts"
Provide customers with the option of a reusable bag or box for
packaging
Develop a pallet return program for routine customers
2 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998 Update.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, p.67, 1999.
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SELECTED GOALS
Use incoming packaging materials for outgoing product
packaging
Distribute product lines in reusable containers
Use shredded newspapers and paper for packing materials
Purchase reusable plastic pallets
Repair and reuse damaged wooden skids and pallets
Reuse packaging materials, such as foam peanuts, bubblewrap,
and cardboard
RECYCLING COLLECTION
Find a market for plastic wrap and banding
Develop closed-loop programs to aid customers in recycling of
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
may be recycled
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Purchase pallets made from your own scrap plastic
Increase recycled-content in corrugated containers
Investigate increased recycled content in cardboard packaging
inserts
Use recycled plastics for consumer packaging
Bass Pro Shops salvaged nearly
170 tons of transport packaging
materials through a shipping and
receiving waste prevention
program, saving more than
$28,000. This program involved
the reuse and sale of used wood
pallets.
The U.S. Government
Printing Office saved $20,000
in 2000 by initiating a program to
repair approximately 4,000
wooden pallets equivalent to 80
tons.
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 $500.
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SELECTED GOALS
Kitsap County, Washington,
minimized purchasing costs through
an internal Wa$te Exchange, a
program in which departments swap
surplus office supplies, saving the
county more than $3,700.
'] if if
United Technologies Carrier
Corporation reduced cardboard
and wood pallet usage by converting
the shipping containers of inbound
bulk materials to returnable
containers. A recent vendor
agreement resulted in the reduction
of more than 33 tons of pallet waste
per year.
Evelyn Hill, Inc. worked
extensively with vendors to redesign
packaging and lightweight containers
and emphasized switching to
reusable or recyclable containers.
Specifically, the company negotiated
with Haagen Dazs to eliminate the
cardboard overwrap and individual
cardboard boxes in ice cream
packaging, eliminating more than 3
tons of cardboard.
Verizon expanded the use of
electronic purchasing orders and
invoices, conserving nearly 29 tons
of paper and saving more than
$60,000.
Function Area:
Purchasing and Receiving
of Products
^],Jl ir'i uppliers are often the source of much of the waste material
'Hi'i! !;>>!, organizations generate on a daily basis. Dumpsters are often
filled with packaging and shipping material from supplier
shipments. By using their purchasing power to leverage suppliers,
organizations can dramatically reduce the volume of unnecessary
packaging materials received from suppliers. Organizations should
make their suppliers aware of their commitment to reducing waste
and purchasing recycled content products. If current suppliers are
unable or unwilling to support this commitment, you may want to
investigate additional suppliers. Small organizations might consider
working with trade associations to garner additional power.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
Require vendors to eliminate unnecessary packaging
Order supplies in bulk
Communicate with suppliers through the electronic transfer of
purchasing invoice information
Establish preferred packaging guidelines to encourage waste
prevention (durable, concentrated, reusable, and high quality)
Send letters to vendors stating your commitment to waste
prevention and requesting a general decrease in packaging
Encourage suppliers to join WasteWise
Reuse
Switch from corrugated to reusable plastic containers
Ask suppliers to ship raw materials in reusable containers
Establish a vendor return program for shipping containers or
pallets
Specify that incoming wood pallets meet requirements for
outgoing pallets so that pallets can be reused
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SELECTED GOALS
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
are large
Share compactors and balers with neighboring businesses if
recyclable quantities are small
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Create a coalition with similar organizations for a joint-
purchasing venture to facilitate purchases of recycled products
Design and use an environmental assessment form to help
purchasing department identify products with recycled content
Establish an environmental supplier award
Specify preference for recycled-content products in contract
language with vendors
Investigate recycled-product alternatives for existing products
Develop a guide to help increase recycled content
Work with vendors to highlight recycled-content products in their
supply catalog
Establish a buy-recycled purchasing policy and include it in all
purchase orders
Send a letter to vendors stating commitment to buying recycled
products
Purchase recycled-content products where possible in new
construction and renovation projects
Educate purchasing department and department heads about
opportunities for purchasing products made with recycled
content
Investigate the performance of recycled-content products
Implement a supplier questionnaire to learn about the use of
products with recycled content
Request that vendors increase the number of recycled content
products offered in supply catalogs
Purchase products with an increased recycled content
percentage than products currently purchased
Emory University doubled its
spending on recycled-content
products to $1.2 million. The
university added a procurement
link to its Web site, and the
purchasing department
established a requirement that all
letterhead be made of
postconsumer-content paper,
based on EPA standards.
Target works with its suppliers to
ensure that 99 percent of all
clothing and 95 percent of all
shoes arrive at the store with no
excess packaging.
The U.S. Postal Service-South
Florida District recycled 5,787
tons of magazines and
undeliverable bulk mail. It also
established an employee
education program to reduce bulk
mail, contributing to the recycling
of 937 tons of mixed paper.
Commonwealth Edison
switched to a single supplier,
which enabled it to receive
supplies as needed and reduce
waste from materials that
exceeded their shelf life.
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SELECTED GOALS
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.
laundered and reused nearly 6
tons of cloth wipes used in
production processes.
Florida Power & Light
prevented the disposal of
approximately 11,700 utility poles
through donation and sale. The
company also saved $1.5 million
by reclaiming, refurbishing, and
reusing pole line hardware and
other parts.
Siemens Automotive
Corporation conducted an
employee awareness program on
the reuse of lab coats in its clean
rooms, decreasing the disposal of
lab coats by 33 percent and
saving $21,000.
Anheuser-Busch Inc. reused
13,000 tons of diatomaceous
earth and spent beechwood
chips, by-products of the brewing
process, in cement and compost,
respectively.
Function Area:
Manufacturing and
Production
| anufacturers face a variety of competing demands
keeping costs low and quality high, staying competitive in a
I global marketplace, and meeting consumer preferences for
more environmentally benign products. Organizations are responding to
these challenges by incorporating environmental considerations into the
design and redesign of products, processes, and technical
management systems. Through a variety of innovative practices,
WasteWise partners have drastically reduced the volume of waste
generated in the manufacturing and production area.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
Improve product design to use less materials (design-for-the-
environment)3
Implement preventative maintenance programs to improve
efficiency and to eliminate downtime
Eliminate the use of plastic films in the manufacturing process
Lightweight plastic and aluminum product packages (e.g., plastic
bottles and aluminum beverage cans)
Reduce production scrap by modifying production equipment
and processes
Control inventory to reduce the overpurchase of non-recyclable
plastic pellets used in the manufacturing process
Manufacture concentrated products to reduce HOPE plastic
packaging
Reuse
Reuse manufacturing waste in product
Reuse scrap cloth as pallet covers
Expand internal reuse of process scraps
Clean and reuse disposable shoe covers and gloves
Reuse electrostatic device bags in manufacturing rather than
discarding them
3 For more information, visit EPA's Design for the Environment Web site at
http://www.epa.gov/dfe/
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Use rechargeable batteries
Launder and reuse cleaning rags
Reuse drums for internal storage and transportation of
materials
Education
Include "design-for-the-environment" in engineer training
Measurement
Develop a waste tracking system for production facilities which
measures and tracks the waste generated on a per unit basis
RECYCLING COLLECTION
Compost organic waste, such as wood or textiles
Conduct monthly audits of material recovery center to
identify additional recyclables
Recycle metal strapping bands, shavings, and floor sweepings
Recycle plastic shipping tubes and rails
Recycle protective plastic gloves and booties used in
manufacturing process
Collect and bale PET to be used in a product
Recycle postconsumer engineering plastic
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Include environmental considerations such as recycled-
content in product design criteria
Increase capacity to manufacture recycled-content products
Increase percentage of postconsumer recycled content in HOPE
purchased for use in manufacturing process
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
recycled opportunities
Develop a prototype pressed paper pallet made from 100
percent mixed paper
Purchase a crosscut shredder to shred aluminum cans and use
material in manufacturing process
SELECTED GOALS
Herman Miller requires an
environmental lifecycle
assessment for all new products
to help the company determine
how it can conserve resources by
altering product designs and
processes.
General Motors incorporated
more than 3,500 tons of recycled-
content plastic, textile, and rubber
components into its automobiles.
Eastman Kodak seeks
innovative ways to reduce waste,
including remanufacturing its line
of single-use FUNSAVER
cameras, which have a return
rate of 74 percent. Through this
program, Kodak diverts mixed
plastics and metals from the
waste stream by incorporating
the parts into new cameras.
The Seydel Companies
reduced production waste by
donating 1,000 pounds of excess
cloth to a local senior center for
quilt making and saved more
than 3 tons of glass and $4,300
by cleaning and reusing glass
sample jars.
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SELECTED GOALS
Eastern Illinois University
composted 12 tons of yard and
tree trimmings on site for use as
mulch around and on campus
landscaping.
Bert Fish Medical Center
generated $3,000 by selling
furniture and memorabilia from
the demolition of an old portion of
the hospital.
The Washoe County
Government Sheriffs Office
reused nearly 11 tons of wood,
metal, and glass from damaged
doors and windows from
construction companies to
practice forced entry. After reuse
the county recycled most of the
door and window materials.
The Tennessee Department
of Correction conserved more
than 13 tons of textiles by
repairing inmate clothing.
Function Area:
Maintenance,
Housekeeping, Renovation
and Landscaping
f astes generated in areas such as housekeeping,
vehicle maintenance, construction, and grounds
maintenance 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
estimated 13 percent of the municipal solid waste stream
(27.7 millions tons).4 Other high volume waste from these function
areas include plastic, corrugated, rubber, wood, and paper. Many
WasteWise partners reduce these wastes by purchasing in bulk,
composting, and reusing materials. Additional examples of waste
reduction initiatives are provided below.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
Replace paper towels in bathroom with a cloth towel roll
Purchase dispensers that regulate the amount of paper towels
used
Purchase mulching lawnmowers or retrofit mowers and leave
grass clippings on lawn
Buy a chipper to turn tree and shrub clippings into mulch
Compost landscaping waste on-site
Use concentrated cleaners
Reuse
Send used air filters from heavy equipment and vehicles to be
cleaned and reconditioned
Replace disposable filters for outside air or circulating systems
with reusable filters
4 Characterization of Municipal Solid Waste in the United States: 1998 Update.
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, p.47-51, 1999.
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Use old linens, which are no longer presentable, as rags for the
remainder of their useful life
Repair and reuse metal skids instead of scrapping and replacing
Refill cleaning product containers
Use old newspapers as mulch
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
and reduce waste generation during maintenance operations
RECYCLING COLLECTION
Purchase equipment to improve the collection of recyclables
Build a storage shed for recyclables
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
Promote recycling within company office space and to the
building owner
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Purchase flooring materials with recycled-content
Increase purchase of recycled-content products in the bathroom,
such as toilet paper and paper towels
Use compost as a top soil amendment
Increase purchase of retread tires
Use postconsumer, recycled-content janitorial supplies
Purchase curbing and parking bumpers made with recycled-
content plastic
Purchase recycling bins made with recycled-content plastic
SELECTED GOALS
The City of Clifton, New
Jersey, salvaged more than 400
tons of street sweepings to use
as landfill cover.
Disneyland Resort purchased
furniture, including benches,
picnic tables, and kraft tables,
made from 100 percent recycled
HOPE plastic for its outdoor guest
areas.
Los Angeles Department of
Water and Power, in California,
conserved more than 6 tons of
building and construction
materials, including carpeting and
office supplies, by reusing or
donating these materials through
the building's remodeling salvage
program.
King County, Washington,
Department of Natural
Resources constructed its King
Street Center with concrete lobby
tiles made with chips of 100
percent recycled glass.
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SELECTED GOALS
U.S. Postal Service -
Northeast Area started a
"Country Store" that reused 120
tons of equipment from 382 post
offices in one district.
Bank of America reconditioned
and reissued 74,930 pieces of
surplus furniture and 25,470
pieces of office equipment, saving
nearly $28 million.
Constellation Energy Group
donated 27 tons of computers
and electronic equipment for
reuse through its computer
donation program.
Seattle University's Surplus
Store sold 71 tons of surplus
goods such as tables,
blackboards, computer
equipment, and desks to
community members, saving
nearly $24,000 and using the
revenues to support its recycling
program.
General WasteWise Goals
0'S'Wiw partners implement a number of waste
f reduction activities on an organizationwide basis.
These efforts range from conducting employee
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
empowers employees to act, such as issuing a formal environmental
policy statement that includes waste reduction as an essential
element. Organizationwide efforts to reduce waste can also foster a
feeling of pride in the workplace as employees work collectively to
improve their environment. Examples of organizationwide activities
initiated by WasteWse partners are detailed below.
WASTE PREVENTION
Reduce
Establish a waste reduction policy
Offer online newspapers to employees
Post organization-wide memos rather than distributing paper
copies to each employee
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
Avoid outdated letterhead by installing company letterhead on
employees' computers
Remove organization name from bulk mailing lists
Post employee forms, organization announcements, and
newsletters to Intranet
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Reuse
Donate old magazines and journals to hospitals, clinics, or
libraries
Reuse corrugated moving boxes internally
Rent reusable boxes for office moves
Donate unwanted supplies to local schools or non-profit
organizations
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
commercial waste exchange
Educate
Eliminate paper training manuals for new employees and install
computer-based learning centers
Publicize waste prevention activities through a new or existing
employee newsletter
Create green teams to brainstorm waste prevention activities
Include waste prevention information in new employee
orientations
Develop an educational video for employees on elements of
your organization's waste prevention program
Conduct waste reduction contests among divisions with prizes
and publicity
Train employees in waste reduction techniques
Promote the WasteWise program to other organizations
Measure
Require each site to periodically report on waste prevention,
recycling, and cost avoidance
Establish a solid waste measurement and reporting program to
evaluate the success of waste prevention efforts
Conduct waste audits to determine waste composition
SELECTED GOALS
Motorola collected 103 tons of
used computers, cell phones,
electronic equipment, furniture,
and office supplies to be donated
to schools and charities where
possible and otherwise recycled.
Alden Central School
implemented a comprehensive
waste reduction program at all
campus buildings, including the
grounds.
First National Bank and Trust
Company expanded PC-based
reports, manuals, and procedures
to reduce paper usage by more
than 4 tons. This activity included
developing personnel status
reports and interactive forms on
the network and Internet.
PARI Innovative
Manufacturers introduced a
companywide "waste awareness"
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.
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SELECTED GOALS
The Coca-Cola Company
provided a major boost to the
buy-recycled market by spending
$2 billion on recycled-content
products.
Schlegel Systems expanded its
recycling program to include
monthly tours and inspections of
all areas to ensure employees are
recycling.
Stoneyfield Farm instituted an
employee bonus plan based on
material use reduction.
The Clorox Company shared
waste prevention information and
results with employees and
recognized the best waste
management strategies at its
facilities.
The U.S. Postal Service-
Alabama District implemented
several innovative programs to
improve its electronic
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.
RECYCLING COLLECTION
Centralize collection of all recyclables
Establish an inter-departmental recycling committee
Educate employees on recycling correctly, emphasizing
contamination issues
Institute a policy of not emptying employees' trash cans if they
contain recyclables
Purchase plain paper fax machines so faxes are recyclable
Formally track recycling activities using a current accounting
system
Acquire a compactor or baler to expand your recycling
program
Research potential markets for recyclables
Make an on-line report available to all facilities comparing trash
and recycling goals to actual results
Promote recycling through an employee suggestion system
Save office newspapers and cans for local recycling programs
Increase recycling education and outreach programs in the
community
BUYING/MANUFACTURING RECYCLED
Invite organization purchasing agents to all recycling meetings
Print documents, such as newsletters and annual reports, on
recycled-content paper
Continually review the recycled content in all products
purchased
Set purchasing policy to favor recycled-content products, such
as price preference
Educate and promote the use of recycled-content paper to
customers
Investigate "closed loop" programs, whereby an organization
purchases products made from their own collected materials,
such as plastic trash bags made from company waste plastics
Research new products with recycled content
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