A recent national survey revealed that nearly 9 out of 10 people would recycle more if it were easier. It is no wonder that an estimated 60% of the garbage that we are still throwing away could be recycled instead. Making these programs more effective is a top priority in order to enjoy all the benefits that recycling programs offer us, the economy and our environment.

Waste Wise Products has identified two major areas where we can encourage more participation. First, the right bins for recycling make the entire process easier and will help foster a sense of involvement in order to increase employee participation. In addition to the right recycling containers, the proper education on why these programs are so important and they benefits they carry convinces many people to put forth the extra effort to participate. Let’s take a look at what makes the right type of bins for recycling and how to educate employees.

Recycling Containers That Make A Difference

Making participation easier begins with a set of recycling containers. Garbage has to be properly sorted and then disposed of in multi-stream programs, but these parts often cause confusion and put people off from doing their part. The right recycling containers will solve this problem.

The best way to make sense of multi-stream programs is to use multi-purpose recycling containers. 90 gallon all-in-one units come with multiple compartments that are clearly marked with the different types of garbage and can be placed in a cafeteria or other large common area. Within each individual office, desk sized dual compartment recycling containers can help separate trash, or rider bins for recycling can be clipped onto a typical waste basket to instantly add another compartment.

Recycling containers should also be placed close to where garbage is generated. Recycling containers for handling paper should be placed near office printers, copiers, and fax machines. Bins for recycling glass and cans should be in break rooms, the cafeteria, and in each hallway. In addition, bins for recycling cardboard should be placed in shipping and receiving areas.

Waste Wise Products also offers a large range of fiberglass bins for recycling that can be customized with a company’s logo and slogan for a personal touch to help create a sense of involvement in a program.

Educating Employees
Even with convenient, easy to use bins for recycling, some employees will still hesitate to participate. At this point, a simple education program can do wonders. Have a companywide email go out every week and include one fact about how recycling will save money, energy, and our natural resources. Use facts like for every 1 ton of plastic that is recycled we save the equivalent of 2 people’s energy use for 1 year, the amount of water used by 1 person in 2 month’s time, and almost 2000 pounds of oil. Consider placing placards or notes on office boards that describe how many jobs are created from the processing and re-use of recycled materials.
In order to encourage participation in the office program, make sure your business has the right set of recycling containers while educating employees on the benefits of the program.

Your home recycling program provides a perfect opportunity to introduce your children to the concepts of business, finance, and the environment. With families, communities, and businesses working hard to cut costs and protect the environment, recycling projects are finally becoming recognized for the financial and environmental benefits they can provide.

Children love to participate in family projects. Starting a home recycling project opens a world of opportunity to teach about different materials used to make products, which ones are recyclable and which ones are not, and the effects on the environment. You can also use recycling to teach basic family finances and business terminology. Once you have contacted your local trash and/or recycling service, you can educate your children about the financial and environmental benefits of using recycling containers.

A Picture Paints A Thousand Words

Start discussing your project with pictures and examples of various food and household packages, both recyclable and non-recyclable. Plastic drink bottles and packaging, glass jars, plastic shopping bags, soda and food cans, paper and cardboard are all simple examples of recyclable materials. Cellophane, mixed media (such as food jar lids), and hazardous materials can be used to illustrate what items are not recyclable.

You can tape magazine pictures of recyclable materials to your recycling bins to help younger children understand what goes in the recycling container and what does not. This is also a perfect time to start composting. Kitchen food waste can be added to an outdoor compost pile or simply buried in your yard. In no time at all, your yard will exhibit the benefits of healthier soil without the use of chemical fertilizers that are toxic to humans.

The Buck Stops Here

The next step is to show your children the financial benefits of using recycling containers. Explain to your children how much money the family spends on trash collection. You can also explain how trash must be stored, collected, transported and disposed of, all of which costs the community money which is paid in the form of taxes.

You can show your children how spending less money on garbage disposal helps the family financially. You can bring this message home by taking some of the savings and passing it on to your children in exchange for managing the recycling bins. Depending upon your children’s ages, you can offer payment for things such as monitoring the recycling bins, emptying the recycling containers, and rinsing out the bins for recycling.

The Business Of Recycling

Your children can learn basic business terminology by collecting and returning cans for the deposit or selling the aluminum, depending upon your state’s policies. All business finances are recorded in one of four areas: assets, liabilities, income and expenses. You can explain to your children that the tools of their “business”, such as the recycling bins, little red wagon, and trash cans, are their assets. If they have to borrow money from the family to purchase any of those assets, that debt is a liability. Liabilities are subtracted from assets for a net worth figure.

The cost of trash bags, garbage disposal, and recycling services are their expenses. Allowances, sale of aluminum, and can deposit earnings are their income. Expenses are subtracted from income for a net profit figure.

While it is difficult to place a monetary value on a safe and healthy environment, your children and their children are sure to benefit from using recycling bins.

Businesses and organizations of all sizes can cut costs with the use of recycling bins. By providing your customers with recycling bins, you create a material flow within your organization that will generate income, instead of costing you ever higher waste collection and removal expenses.

Recyclable materials that are generally thrown into the garbage can benefit your organization in several ways. First, your garbage bill is significantly reduced. Hospitals have been able to cut their waste collection and removal expenses by as much as 70% within the first year of installing recycling containers. In addition, the recycled materials can then be sold to generate income. Furthermore, customers, clients and visitors leave your facility with a greater sense of goodwill toward your organization.

The Key To A Successful Recycling Program Is Convenience

Old habits can be difficult to break. The key to creating a successful recycling program in your business, plant or organization is convenience. By providing well placed, clearly labeled and attractive recycling bins throughout your establishment, they are far more likely to be used. There are many Toronto area online manufacturers of customized recycling containers to choose from. These can be made out of fiberglass, plastic or recycled plastic “lumber.” The recycling bins can integrate your company logo, color scheme, as well as many other options. You will want to use a provider that offers the widest selection and the greatest number of options at the best price.

By placing your recycling bins next to familiar trash receptacles, whether in your sales, manufacturing, or administrative areas, you will soon notice a drastic reduction in the amount of garbage being collected and disposed of and a surprising volume of marketable recyclable materials. Little to no training is required and most people recognize and value the positive impact the use of recycling bins has upon the environment. Your firm will appreciate the positive financial impact a recycling program can have on your cash flow.

How Recycling Cuts Costs

Recycling is a type of “Midas Magic” in the world of finance. Instead of paying someone else to collect and dispose of your garbage, you provide your employees and customers the opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment while creating a new source of revenue for your organization in the form of marketable, recyclable materials. By turning an expense into an income source, your savings are effectively doubled.

Integrating recycling bins into your organization requires minimal start-up costs and provides many long term benefits. Garbage collection costs involve containers, trash can liners, man hours in the form of collection are relocation and then trash disposal fees. Depending upon your type of firm, these costs can be substantial and, as your firm grows, so do these costs.

Options And Opportunities For Increased Income

By installing recycling containers at your place of business, office or manufacturing plant, not only will you reduce your overhead, you will generate a new source of income. Customers will be pleased to participate in your environmentally sound program, adding to the volume of marketable recyclables. Employees will contribute both as individuals and as members of your firm, adding their personal beverage containers and other recyclables to your material flow. Each of these contributions adds up to create even more income for your firm or organization.

As you become familiar with the financial benefits of recycling, you will discover that there are many other opportunities within your firm to increase this income source. The more recycling containers you provide, the more they will be used. Conveniently placed, attractive recycling bins may be just the thing your firm needs to turn a loss into a profit.