Recycle 2 Save

Coleese our "recycled pup" sharing holiday cheer.  CRI management and staff would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas &  blessed New Year filled with much love, many smiles and great success. It has been a pleasure working together with our staff to save our planet one customer at a time. We are thrilled at the growing environmental awareness and are honored to help play a role in positive, green changes made by local residents and businesses. Keep up the good work!!

I was honored to participate in an event with one of our clients that (with the help of CRI) utilized recycled milk jugs to produce picnic tables. These tables were than donated to non profits for use in their organizations. It was a great project all around, companies donated time, money and products. It involved volunteering, donation of recycled goods (for multiple great causes) and was all around a great use of resources. I don't claim to have completed in-depth research on the company(s) that we worked with and all the ins and outs of their business dealings throughout the last 5 years but I know that they did a great thing and it was an amazing event! I expected them to get a great deal of recognition, and they did, but not all in the form that I think they deserved. I understand that at times people (and companies) have hidden motives. I understand that sometimes people have more "extreme" views and want to see companies do more (understandable) but why criticize p...

It's been a little bit since I've added something fresh to our blog. I struggle with trying to provide new, educational content that people would like to read (hint: I'm always looking for reader suggestions/comments to point me in the right direction). I decided I'd ease back in with something fun to test your recycling knowledge. We are going to be "grading" some bales that are in our warehouse. Can you tell me what these are? They have been sorted at our facility and compacted (into bales) that are easier for storage and transport but what where they? Please, all guesses welcomed!        I used to be a :  ????                              this one isn't meant to stump you (there is some bleed from the item above - the brown ones) and a new product to the right. 

We lost one of our valued team members at the end of August. Ken (our head dispatcher) retired. He had been with our company for over 8 years. Ken managed our drivers and helped get our customers serviced as quickly and efficiently as possible. We wish Ken the best retirement filled with lots of Red Sox Games, grandchildren, and all the other experiences that will take his breath away! You will be missed. "May the road rise up to meet you.  May the wind be always at your back  May the sun shine warm upon your face  The rains fall soft upon your fields  And until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of his hand"  -An Irish Blessing-

A Recycled Basket (all items inside are made from recycled content) donated to a local customer for an employee event.  I find it absolutely amazing all the things that can be recycled and I love to point out items that are a product of recycling (I mean, it's pretty much my job to do that). Everyday new technology allows items previously destined to live decades in a landfill (or nearly forever) to become something new. I think that it's essential that people know what can be recycled and the actual impact that recycling has. To see that my water bottle, when thrown in the recycling bin (along with a few "friends") has now become a tee shirt encourages me to never take the easy road (and when required) walk a few extra steps to ensure that my items are recycled Lately I've read that cigarette butts, diapers, mattresses, carpet, waxed drink containers can all be recycled. Part of me gets really excited, we all need to use less items that end up in the la...

Whether this week or in a few days to come .. wishing all little ones and big ones alike a great start to a new school year! Keep it green! 

CRI Single Stream Operations. Here are some shots of our single stream system chuggin' away. The material is pouring in and the recycling process has begun. Single stream might seem like an easier recycling solution but just like when you were sorting it yourself, please keep out garbage! Nearly all items that were labeled trash in the past continue to be. While getting some quick shots to post here I saw a some obvious garbage that needed to be sorted out. As a general rule the following items are always considered non recyclable  during standard curbside collection or drop off (really, they were out there) Mattresses (although I've heard they can be recycled it has to be a special collection item and if mixed in with the recycled will be trashed) Diapers (clean or especially dirty) Food Waste (Again, we compost but it cannot be mixed in with your recycling it just makes garbage) Doggie & Kitty "Bi-products" (I know that no one wants to han...

I recently read a blog post (which CRI shared on Facebook) about the "secret" confessions of someone who tries to be green but struggles with not so eco moments. The blog really spoke to me. I make a large effort to keep it green. I do really well most times but there are still areas that I could use some real improvement. I have a paper towel addiction. I've tried to opt for sponges and reusable towels but nothing has quite done the trick for me as well as paper towels (especially in a pinch with many'o spills with small children). Reusable towels created more laundry and I could never get them to look clean again after cleaning up something like grape juice or strawberries. I'd pull them out in front of company and be convinced that they were judging us as someone who "forgot" to do the wash. I feel guilt as I pull a towel off the roll - the good news is that when you compost.. it's not so bad (yes, now I'm justifying). The nice thing about...

I see on sites like yours that you accept most plastics 1-7. Why is it that where I live they take only #'s 1&2?  I even know they bring it to you. Should I throw it in the bin anyway and let them figure it out.. since obviously they can be recycled? Thanks!  Kaylee You are not alone Kaylee, I have heard this question frequently. A local township or drop off center has the ability to decide how they'd like the recycling in their area handled. They can determine what type of program best fits their residents. Plastics #'s 1&2 are typically the most common and highly recyclable plastic, with a steady rebate (when kept separated, clean, and contaminant free). A lot of thought typically goes into the decision of what items they will allow for collection. 1. Cost : The number one factor is typically cost. We'd like to pretend that the environment is all that matters but in a time when budgets are being cut and programs dropped or suspended, money plays a very i...

  We have the ability to make everyday Earth Day. Celebrate our Earth today.  

We only had one answer but he was right on. Way to go, you showed us your skills!   The above corrugated is coated with wax (used mostly for produce). The wax coating makes recycling it with other corrugated items not possible and recycling in general quite difficult. Some companies may be able to handle this item but at a minimum must be kept separate. The above corrugated is very recyclable and so is the plastic which is wrapping it but together they are garbage. If the plastic is removed both items can be thrown in (separate) recycling bins.   The above items are box cutting, this material is commonly used for soda can packaging, cereal, boxed pasta, etc. They do not have the "honey combed" makeup that you'd find in corrugated boxes. They are fully recyclable but do not have the same value and reuse potential that corrugated does.     Thanks so much for participating.. if you enjoyed Recycling 101 let me know and we...

These items were sorted out of the corrugated and are considered contamination in that grade. Any idea why?     Why not participate? You can show off your recycling skills or maybe learn something new.    

We've been hearing the chants recently.. single stream, single stream, single stream. It has become  the craze and it seems that nearly everyone thinks its the wave of the future (heck they have a song about it  Toss It Baby ). Many "environmentalists" push for the idea, they claim it'll get those people recycling that previously refused and greatly improve recycling numbers and participation. I consider myself to be environmentally conscious, so much so that I think dual stream is a better option (yeah, I know, no one cares). So okay, technology in the single stream arena has improved, separating the material has become more effective, and the residual rates have gone down (still noticeably higher then a dual stream facility).  We have agreed, that with everyone pushing, single stream seems to be a necessity brought on by market demand. CRI Hamburg is in the midst of installing a single stream sorting syste...

A little lady thinking green. I know I'm not alone here, I've heard plenty of people saying the same thing this year. I am so ready for spring!The snow and ice melted, the birds starting singing, little bulbs started blooming and then.. it snowed ,ice (re)formed, and the heating oil is still pouring through our burner like coins in a slot machine. I think the biggest hurtle is the mental aspect of things. Had mother nature not let us taste the warmth we wouldn't be craving it quite as badly right now, but we did.. and we want more! This correlates with my last post talking about how to get employees to participate in the recycling efforts of a company. In most instances once staff and management "taste" the benefits of recycling or see the impact one company can have in our environment it's tough not to crave more. It becomes easy, almost second nature, to look for more ways to save or more things to pull out of trash. It is always harder to retrain a...

Kim A emailed me a question:   I have been tasked with getting our office recycling program running. The actual process of recycling collection has started but the staff isn't really jumping on board like I thought they would. I fought for our company to recycle but it's not going as planned. Please help!! Kim, thanks for writing. You are not alone, many times it is tough to get staff to jump on board with anything new let alone a new recycling program. So often people are scared of change and accustomed to doing things the way "they've always done it". I do have a few key suggestions that have provided the needed motivation in the past. 1. Keep it simple. Any extra steps needed to recycle will often be steps not taken. Place recycling bins right next to garbage bins, typically in high traffic areas. 2. Label clearly. When not sure what to do you resort to what you know. If not properly and completely labeled the employees will go back to what they k...

We all know or have known  a "Debbie Downer". The person in the crowd that seems to suck the light out of room, who can turn a good situation into a problem and a problem into a crisis of epic proportions. So often in all the environmental talk there are extremists ( Debbie Downers if you will). We definitely need to continue to make progress in our environment to right some wrongs of the past but I take the optimist approach that we are working on it. I've witnessed a lot of positive change. Most people have recognized that we need this planet and are paying attention to our environment and things are looking up. People are asking for environmentally friendlier solutions (or demanding them) and companies are taking notice and responding. I do have to admit that when I read this article: Pennsylvania County Dumps Solid Waste Department & Recycling Program, I was a bit upset. At risk of sounding like a Debbie Downer I feel like this is a move in th...

When I hear "yard sale" this time of year (as a skier) I think of a total wipe out. Not just a fall but a wipe out so severe that it looks like a yard sale because you have lost all your gear at various spots on the hill. At the first sign of trouble you dropped a pole the second falling shortly thereafter. The next item to go was the gloves; how?, not even sure. You lose a ski, then two and before you know it the goggles and hat are also no longer on your person (most times the yard sale happens so quickly and unexpectedly that you don't even know what you're missing until you have found yourself face down in the snow). You stand up (if you can) and survey the damage. Yeah, I'm not talking about that kind of yard sale (what I'm talking about is much more fun for the person participating versus those lucky enough to have caught a glimpse from on the lift).  I am talking about a good old fashioned yard sale.The idea of selling at a yard sale; where you ge...

Don't eat the yellow snow! I just read an article in Waste and Recycling News about a ski resort in Arizona using sewage effluent as their primary water source to make snow. I am obviously all about recycling, reusing, compost, natural fertilization (I guess) and skiing. I'm just not sure that I want to take a big spill on this mountain, especially the kind of spill that involves snow going everywhere (inclusive of your mouth). When the resort first fired up it's new "recycled water" machines the snow came out yellow. The representative from the resort stated the source of the yellow snow was really from some residual rust in the pipes and not the recycled water. I just wanted to throw a blanket warning out there .. no matter where you are.. no matter what you are doing.. don't eat the yellow snow!

We have gotten a few pictures and they are great but we'd love to see more. Almost everyone has some great pictures that capture breathtaking scenes that you can't help but admire. We want to provide some motivation in the form of a picture. Sometimes we get too wrapped up in our day to day lives to take a moment and realize all that we have! We all know what they say, a picture is worth 1,000 words. We have great prizes that will be worth your while, plus you'll be motivating others to take care of our fine planet (which could be motivation enough .. ) .

Do you have any great nature pictures that you'd like to share that sums up the phrase "this is worth saving?" Please share them (we'll give you all the credit)! You can email them to me at t.macaulay@couglesrecycling.com . Can't wait to see them!

So often motivation is based on a reward, or the potential for one. My dog will sit when asked because generally treats are given. People comment on a blog or face book post because they are told a winner will be selected. Unfortunately sometimes life's rewards aren't immediate, you don't always get your treat for doing the deed. In the long run I'm convinced they'll usually pay off; but we aren't always wise enough to link the deed and the "pay off", we tend to be to short sited and forget. The nice thing about recycling is that there is always a positive result. Our goal (which is often met and exceeded) is to make the payoff as immediate as possible. You recycle a ton of corrugated boxes and you are paid and you saved 17 trees. The monetary payment is a great reward for the company but doesn't typically motivate the staff to participate.  Some companies incentivize their staff by making a reward for them; they publish their recycling r...