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In today’s economy, keepIng a small busIness afloat can seem

like an uphill  battle. And while recycling is oten thought o as a social

responsibility rather than a cash-cow, the chasing arrows can oten bolster

your bottom-line just as much as crunching numbers and cutting back on

overhead. Don’t believe us? Check out these six ways recycling can help your

small business save money and increase neighborhood PR, and start makingstewardship a part o your business plan.

Upcycle DecorWhether you own a small retail shop, restaurant or ofce—you’re bound to

need urniture or sta and customers. I your ofce decor is looking a little

drab, don’t waste cash on brand new items. Recycle chairs, desks and other

pieces you already have to save on money and carbon emissions.

Businesses in the U.K. saved £14 million (about $21 million) per year by

reusing ofce chairs, desks and other urniture, according to a research studyconducted by WRAP (Waste & Resources Action Programme). To upcycle

your old urniture, try giving wood pieces a resh coat o stain or reupholstering

seat cushions or a brand new look.

To save even more money (and resources), ask local upholstery stores i they

have any letover scrap pieces rom previous jobs. Scraps will sell or a raction

o the price and most will be large enough to use on seat cushions.

Recycle for CharityGetting involved in charities and nonprofts in your community is a great way

to boost PR or your small business. Sure, you could just write a check. But whynot recycle to raise unds instead? Set up a charity recycling drive, and send out a

press release to local news media to spread the word in your community.

I you live in an area that provides cash reunds or recyclables, try hauling your

bottles and cans to a local recycling center once a week and donating the proceeds

to the charity o your choice. For a project with a little less legwork, partner with

an existing organization like Recycling or Charities to set up a undraising drive.

Recycling or Charities will help you organize a cell phone recycling drive at

your small business and donate the profts to the charity o your choice. Your

business will also be eligible or tax deductions or each undraiser.

Make it AccessibleI you’re paying or recycling at your small business, it can be rustrating to

notice recyclables in the trashcan. The best way to increase participation is to make

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Recycling

Six Ways Recycling Can Boost Small BusinessMary Mazzoni

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48  WasteAdvantage Magazine January 2012

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  WasteAdvantage Magazine January 2012 49

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recycling bins more accessible to sta and customers. Most will choose to recycle i 

given the opportunity.

Make sure there is a recycling bin next to every trashcan, and concentrate

on areas where your sta uses the most paper. Place bins or scrap paper nextto copy machines and printers, and ask sta members to reuse paper whenever

possible. Reusing scrap paper in-house will dramatically cut back on waste in

your business, and you’ll likely fnd yoursel ordering ar less paper each month.

For added un, divide your sta into teams and engage in weekly recycling

competitions. Place dierent colored bins around the ofce to represent each

team, and tally recycling volumes at the end o the week.

Reclaim Hard-to-Recycle WasteRecycling bottles, cans and paper is a no-brainer. But what about all those

tricky-to-recycle items around the ofce? Take advantage o unconventional

recyclers, like TerraCycle, to reclaim uncommon recyclables.

TerraCycle oers “brigades” to collect previously non-recyclable or hard-to-

recycle waste items—rom printer ink cartridges to calculators to Scotch tape.

And they’ll even provide collection boxes to help your sta get in on the action.

Make a list o non-recyclable waste items rom your ofce, and head to

TerraCycle to recycle them. For uncommon recyclables you can’t send to

TerraCycle, use www.Earth911.com to fnd a solution in your area.

Sponsor a ClassYou probably collect loads o scrap paper, promotional materials and

cardboard at your business. These materials are super-easy to recycle, but why

miss out on an opportunity to get involved with a school or rec center in your

community?

Talk to a local school or community center about donating your paper waste

or arts and crats projects. And volunteer to host a short presentation aboutrecycling or students. You’ll soon be on the map as a local green business and

recycling authority in your community.

Network, Network, Network Networking unctions are part o what makes your small business thrive.

And since you’re upping the eco ante at your business, why not meet other

entrepreneurs that are doing the same thing?

A simple Web search with your city or county name and the words “green

business networking” should yield local green business associations and events

in your area. Attend an upcoming event and swap recycling tips with like-

minded business owners. Many may be able to provide contacts to urther

upcoming eco initiatives. Eco groups also typically sponsor a local green

business directory, and getting your business on the list will help attract Earth-

riendly customers in your neighborhood.

And don’t orget Twitter. The social media giant provides a treasure-trove

o ree PR. Update regularly on upcoming green initiatives at your small

business, and ollow local civic associations and community groups to help

spread the word. |WA

 Mary Mazzoni is a staff writer for Earth911 based in Philadelphia, PA. This article was reprinted with permission from www.earth911.com. Visit the original link

  at http://earth911.com/news/2011/11/21/6-ways-recycling-can-boost-small-business.

©2012 Waste Advantage Magazine, All Rights Reserved.Reprinted from Waste Advantage Magazine. Contents cannot be reprinted without permission from the publisher.