Recycle 2 Save

Unlike the month before a majority of the bins are full, some are even overflowing, switching to a single stream recycling program appears to be a success but wait, hold the presses. Single stream recycling has proven to be more enticing to most participants. It seems easier, less to know and less to do; who isn't about easier these days? The unfortunate result is a harder job at the recycling facility because despite higher participation there is also higher amounts of contamination. Our sorters who previously handled paper separation have transitioned into the mixed materials. Yes, garbage always happened occasionally (even when it was strictly paper) but not on the scale that the single stream collection has provided. Not only is sorting the mixed items not the most sought after job but it is also costly for the materials recovery facility who pays per ton for the material to be unloaded only to pay a higher per ton rate to have the waste/contaminants hauled away. As a ...

This is a rough copy of our latest creation. We love it and think it states the exact message that we often try to get across. Every person can make a huge impact! #recycle

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.    

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...

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...

  Ever thought that you were on the right road only to discover that you should have take the exit a few miles back? Unfortunately using it as a metaphor the road that a business owner, parent, heck human being should choose isn't always clear or marked, and is almost never absolute. Sometimes the joys in life are discovered by taking the "wrong" road or the "long cut" (as we've so loving described my fathers sometimes disastrous shortcuts). As a business owner you often don't have time or the available funds for an exploratory journey; you really just need a quick, short path.   Waste reduction and recycling is unfortunately a path that is unique to each business. There is no exact plan written that will work for every location or material they generate. It is also so important that someone with first hand knowledge can direct and guide decision makers about things they aren't supposed to know in depth. The knowledge required to run each...

Incoming and Outgoing. The top photo is baled material as it arrives to our Hamburg, PA location. The bottom photo is as bales are leaving on the way to be made in to new (recycled) products. Stay tuned.. the next time you see them, may be in your grocery cart (we hope). Buy Recycled!