In a 2019 survey, 2/3 of consumers considered sustainability as a top concern when purchasing products.
Newer generations are requesting that businesses do more to protect the environment.
Building an eco-friendly business profile starts by following proper waste management guidelines. How do you know if your business is compliant?
Keep reading for six easy recycling solutions that’ll keep you up to date with the latest standards.
1. Check the Standards
When discussing compliancy, it’s important to keep in mind the federal recycling laws.
The first is the Pollution Prevention Act, which encourages reducing waste at the source. In other words, eliminating potential waste before it is created. This can be done by altering the design, production, and use characteristics of a product.
The second law is the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The RCRA allows the EPA to regulate the management of waste.
In addition to federal laws, certain states have separate requirements for recycling, e-waste, and landfill use.
Before taking active steps to improve recycling efforts, check with the EPA for standards relevant to your company and location.
2. Identify Waste
If your goal is to recycle, it’s a good idea to figure out where waste exists in your company.
Waste audits can help you outline the amount and types of waste you generate. If your company shows higher rates of paper waste, your priority can be to minimize paper use or find more efficient recycling methods for paper products.
3. Team-Based Recycling Solutions
If you’re intending to stay compliant with waste, it needs to be company-wide. It’s important to inform your staff of the expectations.
Have monthly meetings to go over which products can and cannot be recycled, and discuss the best location for recycling bins.
It might help to assign a specific person to offer incentives and keep everyone accountable.
4. Lunch Breaks
Encouraging staff to bring snacks or lunches in reusable bags or Tupperware as opposed to brown paper or ziplock bags can reduce food waste.
Providing reusable water bottles or mugs will eliminate waste from paper cups.
Even fountains or fill-up stations that require you to bring your own bottle are eco-friendly alternatives to traditional vending machines.
5. Partner with Recycling Companies
Prioritizing waste, while important, is difficult when more pressing business meetings or project deadlines are coming up.
Now, some companies exist to make recycling easier.
You can go online and have kits sent to you, each one made for certain waste material. All that you have to do is pack it up and ship it back. The companies take care of the rest!
6. E-Waste, Lights, and Batteries
Certain electronics are made with heavy metals and contain toxic chemicals. If they aren’t disposed of properly, over time these substances will leak and risk polluting soil and water.
This is why it’s important to recycle e-waste.
Recycling companies can reuse resources, eliminate the risk of leaks, and can even protect sensitive information from being retrieved from outdated computers.
Think Outside the Trash
The best recycling solutions I can offer will inform you about your recycling habits, and then encourage active steps toward safe waste management.
If you’re looking to reduce your environmental impact, find the perfect recycling kit here!