the keep america beautiful, inc. guide to waste in …infohouse.p2ric.org/ref/30/29595.pdf ·...

GORP 1126:

,

Waste in the Workplace A small business' guide for'-auditing commercial waste,

identijijing recyclables, c minimizing waste and managing disposal costs.

- KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL, INC. Copyright 199 1

Keep America Beautyul, Inc., gratefully acknowledges the contributions made by the members of its Solid Waste Committee in creating this guide.

American Public Works Association =American Society of Civil Engineers I Association of State & Territorial Solid Waste Management Offiiials I Council of State Governments I General Federation of Women's Clubs I Znternatwnal City Management Association =National Association of Coun- ties I National Association of Regional Councils I National League of Cities I The Procter & Gamble Company I Scott Paper Company I Take Pride in America I Tennessee Valley Authority I U.S. Chamber of Commerce I U.S. Conference of Mayors I U.S. Environmental Protection Agency I U.S.D.I. National Park Service

Keep America Beautqul also acknowledges the assistance of Sami Barile, Coordinator, MorristownlHamblen Keep America Beautijiul, System Inc., and Bonita Turner, Executive Director, Keep San Antonio Beautijul, Inc.

a This booklet is printed on recycled paper

INTRODUCTION

From the corporate boardroom to the back storeroom, interest in improving the environment is enjoying near universal support. One area in which businesses can make an immediate impact is in reducing the amount of waste needing disposal and recycling as much of the remainder as possible. This guidebook was created to assist you in this effort. By following its suggestions and complet- ing the worksheets, you will understand how and where waste is created during your daily operations, and how to use that information to reduce waste, increase recycling and possibly reduce your waste management bill.

The United States currently produces 180 million tons-of municipal solid waste a year. Municipal solid waste includes’materials from the residential, commercial, and institutional sectors as well as light industrial waste. An increasing number of states are mandating separation for recycling to reduce the quantity of material destined for disposal. The only way to come close to meeting ambitious recycling goals is if every sector of the community is an active participant in reducing and recycling the materials it generates. The contribution of the commercialand institutionalsectors to a community’s waste stream varies greatly. Depending on whether it is an urban, suburban or rural setting, commercial and institutional waste can range from 30 to 70% of total municipal solid waste generation. By volume, corrugated boxes make up approximately 7% of the nation’s waste stream; some 4% is commercial office and printing paper.

This guide can be used by retailers, offices, food service organizations, institutions, and many light industries. Be aware that it targets materials found in municipal solid waste-it does not cover industrial or hazardous wastes. Many excellent manuals cover hazardous waste reduction, and are listed in the bibliography.

Keep America Beautiful, Znc. 1

The Waste Audit: What Is It?

A n effective waste reduction program must be based on current and accurate information on the quantity and composition of the waste stream. Therefore, the first step is a "waste audit," a systematic procedure to review- operations and their subsequent waste generation. Performing this exercise will define the composition of your ___ discards by examining how materials enter and exit your facility.

All operations produce waste and there is nothing shameful or wrong by recognizing that. However, today's concern over waste generation and increasing costs of collection and disposal are good reasons to find out how to reduce waste, increase recycling, and try to cut costs.

An audit alone will not reduce your business's waste. Rather, it is the starting point which will enable your business to make informed decisions on how to allocate resources for source reduction and recycling programs.

The procedures outlined in this guidebook are based upon Keep America Beautiful, Inc.'s behaviorally-based approach to changing attitudes and practices relating to the handling of solid waste. This five-step attitude change process has been successfully applied in more than 465 communities in 38 states resulting in the sustained - reduction of litter, increased recycling, and improved solid waste management decision-making.

GET THE FACTS: /

A waste reduction program cannot succeed without accurate information on the nature and magnitude of the wastes involved. An audit will involve an inventory of all activities within your business to identify sources, quantity, - types and rates of waste generation. In addition, it is important to understand local solid waste issues so that you can design a program that will help your community reach its goals for reduction and recycling.

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INVOLVE THE PEOPLE: - Select an audit team. A representative of each area of your business-maintenance, cleaning, mailroom,

purchasing, production line, the building manager, and management-must be included, because each is responsible for the waste stream. It is vitally important for management to serve on the team, both to authorize release of necessary records and to demonstrate the company's commitment to the effort.

Depending on the size of your establishment, choose two or more people to head up the waste audit team. They must be motivated, personally interested in and committed to getting the facts, with the intention of following up the waste audit with a program to reduce and recycle the maximum amount of material.

PLAN SYSTEMATICALLY: d

Depending on the type of business, a variety of waste streams are created. For example, about 80% of office L waste is recyclable paper. Retailers generate a large percentage of corrugated boxes. Food service organizations -~

generate food waste and beverage containers.

2 Keep America Beaut@, Inc.

FOCUS O N RESULTS: __ Performing a waste audit will be a waste itself-of time-if the results are not made known. The audit team

should meet with the proper decision-makers and present their findings to management. The management nember of the waste audit team will be helpful in setting up this meeting.

Frequently, management spends its time in the office, on the telephone, or traveling. Many managers do not lave the time or spend relatively little time on the operations end of the business, relying instead on reports from iarious division heads. Management may focus on the overall picture, or it may focus only on the bottom line. Waste management may not head its list of priorities. But proper waste management does play a large role in the lottom line, and the team's presentation should emphasize that fact.

Out of this meeting should come a desire and commitment to that extra step beyond a waste audit: revisions -I waste management that will include source reduction and recycling.

POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT:

Members of the waste audit team will perform a vital task for your business. It is important they be thanked for heir work. Recognition in the company newsletter, letters from the company president and notices on bulletin ioards are some examples of recognition.

The Walkthrough - ~

To assess company waste generation and obtain the facts, the first thing the audit team will do is research how

Following the completion of Profile 1, the team will conduct a walkthrough of the facility. The inspection should

roduced and how they are managed. Pay attention to the particular types of material discarded a t each point of isposal. The walkthrough may result in the formation of preliminary conclusions about reduction/recycling .

pportunities. Take notes and refer to them when the entire audit is completed. Be sure to pay close attention to:

vaste is currently managed and fill out Profile 1.

tart ?./here materials 3re first received, neting a! =pe:ati=ns that generate was:e, what types 0: waste are

receiving area lounge stock room cafeteria, kitchen and lunch room individual offices and desks assembly lines copy and f a x machines shipping

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Keep America Beautijiul, Znc. 3

Profie 1: Current Waste Operations ~

I

Name of Hauler:

L ist all collection points inside and outside the company:

Amount currently collected by weight

vo I u me:

Frequency of co I I ec t io n :

Average bill?

0 i I I i ng frequ en cy2

0ilk based on weight or volume?

Where is waste finally disposed?

List current RECYCLING efforts:

4 Keep America Beautijul, Znc.

daterials collected:

How are they collected? ~

Smounts of each material collected by weight:

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'ercentage of overall waste currently recycled:

:ecycl i ng reven ue:

.ecycling costs:

,voided disposal costs: (Le. savings accrued by not paying for material t o be hauled t o final dis- -~~

osal facilities)

Keep America Beautijul, Znc. 5

The Trash Sort

w t h a basic understanding of your operation's waste management, the team is ready to take a hands-on approach. Wearing protective clothing, the audit team will meet at the end of a work day or shift to physically sort through- the waste created during that day. (If the amount or type of trash varies substantially from day to day, the tea- may wish to conduct this inspection on random days over the course of two weeks and then compute an average profile of one day's waste.)

Since this exercise will require the team to physically sort through the trash, puncture-resistant gloves and old clothes are a must. To conduct the inspection, spread out a large plastic sheet and dump the day's waste on it. Do not sort recyclables in an area where they might come in contact with food and become contaminated. Use a scale, if possible, to estimate the percentage of each category in the waste stream. If you produce a large amount of waste on a daily basis, use a representative sample of your trash containers. Conduct the inspection in a garage, fenced-in area, or other location. This will keep trash from blowing away and is easy to clean up afterwards.

Using the information in the section of this guidebook titled "Materials Background" as a guide, and Profile 2 as a worksheet, first check off each type of material generated. Second, estimate what percentage each material- comprises of your daily waste stream. Be aware that the identification list may not include everything you find in your waste. There is room at the end of the list to add other categories.

Remember, this guidebook is intended for municipal solid waste audits. If you generate hazardous waste (chemicals, used oil, etc.) refer to the bibliography for appropriate guidebooks. -

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Materials 8 ac kgr ound

Plastics

I f your organization generates a variety of plastic waste, you may need to call the supplier or manufacturer to jetermine what type of re,sin it is made of. This information is critical in recycling plastics. To assist in identifying iottles and containers, the Society of the Plastics Industry developed a coding system. As of April 1991,30 states lave passed legislation mandating the coding of plastic bottles and rigid plastic containers.

Consisting of a triangular mark of chasing arrows accompanied by a numeral and abbreviation, the code identifies he resin for the consumer and the recycler. Presently; the code identifies six basic resin types plus a category of 'Other," utilizing the numbers 1-7. The resins identified are: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PETE), High Density 'olyethylene (HDPE),,Polyvinyl chloride (V), Low Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polysty- ene (PS). I

The code allows containers and bottles to'be sorted by resin. While plastics can sometimes be recycled into a :ommingled stream, pure resin streams normally yield a higher value for the recycler.

A

&>Other

OTHER

~

PETE (polyethylene terephthalate)

PETE

n (high-density polyethylene)

HDPE

V (polyvinyl chloride) & PS v

PP (polypropylene) LDPE (low-density polyethylene)

PP LDPE


p9?= Papers comprise 40% of municipal solid waste by weight. The markets for much of the paper found in the-

commercial sector are strong. Computer printout and white ledger are particularly good markets, offering a high return for material. Of course, as more business recycling programs are established and more material enters the - secondary marketplace, the prices may drop.

Corrugated cardboard has high value and is easy to sell for recycling. Large retailers typically recycle corrugated, usually collecting revenue and avoiding extra disposal charges. Some others will allow entrepreneurs to pick up the material free of charge, simply to lessen the amount of waste they pay to have taken away.

Colored paper can and is being recycled, but there are fewer markets and they pay less for the collected material. Mixed waste paper includes coated stock (Le. magazines), paperboard, envelopes and other material. A very limited number of markets exist for this grade.

To handle the issue of keeping materials free of contaminants, you should contact recyclers, haulers or local officials who are familiar with local markets. A contaminant to one recycler may not be to another.

Aluminum

Aluminum cans comprise less than 1 % of the waste stream, and 63% of all cans are currently being recycled. Aluminum has the highest value of all recyclable materials. Foil and other aluminum products such as rain gutters or house siding are recyclable but must be collected separately from cans because they are made from a different ~

alloy.

Steel

Scrap dealers have been recycling steel and'other ferrous metal for decades. A new push to recycle steel beverage and food containers is taking place across the country. Commonly referred to as "tin cans," these containers are coated with an extremeiy thin iayer of tin which is often removed and recyciea separateiy by detinners. Bi-metal beverage containers have steel bodies and aluminum ends. The aluminum does not have to be removed as it can be included in the steel recycling process.

Glass

Glass containers must be separated by color for recycling. When they become mixed there is virtually no market for the glass as new containers. Leaded glass, baking glass, and ceramics cannot be recycled.

Yard Waste

If your business is in an office park or is a freestanding building, investigate how the landscaper disposes of grass clippings and leaves. Nationally, yard waste comprises 18% of the MSW. Many communities are now diverting yard wastes from landfills and waste-to-energy plants by composting them.

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8 Keep America Beaut@, Inc.

Profie 2: identifying Wastes

Check off if in waste stream

Estimate % in waste stream

Green bar computer paper

White ledger

white form feed paper

white copy paper

white letterhead

white ledger pads

cash register receipts

adding machine tape

envelopes

Colored paper

copy paper

yellow legal pads

letterhead

message pads

spread sheers

Newsprint

Corrugated cardboard

Mixed waste paper

unsolicited mail

coated stock

windowed envelopes

stick-on notes

boxboard

Used paper

Paper plates/cups

napkins towels

tissue

Keep America Beautijiul, Inc. 9

Non Recyclable paper

wax-coated

plastic coated

carbon paper

Plastics

PETE bottles

HDPE bottles, unpigmented

HDPE bottles, pigmented

HDPE film

L DPE film

Vinyl bottles

Polypropylene

Poly5tytrene foam

Rigid Polystyrene

OTHER plastics

Aluminum

cans

foil

Other (rain gutters, etc.)

%eel cans

Other ferrous metals (strapping)

Glass

brown

clear

green

Yard waste *

grass clippings

Check off if in waste stream

Estimate % in waste stream __

leaves and brush

Other Materials

10 Keep America Beautijiul, Znc.

Materials Qualifications

i f t e r broadly identifying the types and percentayes of waste generated by the walkthrough and visual/hands-on nspection, the team has reached the final element of the audit-quantifying the amounts of each of these wastes s ing Profile 3.

Completion of Profile 3 requires the audit team to review purchasing records for each of the materials checked )ff on the identification list (Profile 2). This review will determine how much comes into your facility on a monthly rasis. (In an office environment, for example, a vast amount of what is purchased is discarded. In a manufacturing acility, a majority of items purchased become part of that company's product.)

In addition to purchasing records, pay careful attention to other ways materials enter your operation (Le. mailings, lonations). On line (A) of Profile 3 you will put the monthly amount in pounds received by your establishment. Line B) is an estimate of how much of each type of material is not discarded. Find this amount by estimating how many iounds of each mate& are retained in your establishment (for filing, storage, etc.) and add it to the amount that 3ave.s the establishment via the mail, customers, etc.

It is important that on line (C) your calculations also estimate how many pounds of each material are currently scycled. Add the amount recycled (C) to the amount that you estimate is retained or mailed out of the office (B). iubtract this subtotal from the amount of material received on a monthly basis (A). This figure will be the total mount disposed. ~

Do this for each segment of your waste stream. Make several copies of Profile 3 so that you have enough clean heets to quantify all of the significant elements of the waste stream.

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Keep America Beautiful, lnc. 11

Profile 3: Quantify Elements of the Waste 5tream

Item:

(A) Ibs. received monthly

(6) Ibs. no t discarded

@e. retained in files or warehouse, mailed out)

(C) Ibs. recycled A - (6 + C) = Total Discards

(D) Total monthly discards

Item:


(6) Ibs. n o t discarded

(i.e. retained in files or warehouse, mailed out)

(C) Ibs. recycled A - (6 + C) = Total Discards

(D) Total monthly discards --

12 Keep America Beautijiul, Znc.

Item:


(6) Ibs. n o t discarded

@.e. retained in files or warehouse, mailed out)

f (C) Ibs. recycled A - (0 + C) = Total Discards


-

(A) Ibs.

(6) Ibs,

(i, e.

(c) Ibs.

\

Item:

received monthly

n o t d isca rded

retained in files or warehouse, mailed out)

recyc I ed A - (6 + C) = Total Discards

c


--


Following Up On A Waste Audit

1 t is now time to look a t how your business' waste stream can be turned from a "debit" to a "credit." This can be done using the same five steps Keep America Beautiful, Inc. has been using when working at the community- ~

level: Get the Facts, Involve the People, Plan Systematically, Focus on Results, and Provide Positive Reinforce-- ment.

GET THE FACTS:

Thanks to the waste audit team, you know what items are in your waste stream and in what amounts. You now need to determine whether or not those items must remain as waste, need never enter the waste stream in the first place, or can be turned into resources.

INVOLVE THE PEOPLE:

Again, remembering that no waste reduction or recycling program will succeed unless everyone is involved, select a team to plan your reduction/recycling program. It could be the same team that did the waste audit, or it could be a "fresh" group of people. Be sure management is involved, as well as a representative of each department. Encourage all employees to participate through a suggestion box or brainstorming sessions.

Keep them informed and involved at all steps in the development and implementation of a program. Employees can be an invaluable resource in identifying ways to improve the program.

- -

Once your plan is devised, all employees and managers must be trained in reduction and recycling processes..

PLAN SYSTEMATICALLY: ,

Begin by prioritizing the elements of the waste stream for action. Ideally, every element will be targeted for reduction/recycling, but it is best to begin by concentrating on the one or \two which make up the greatest portion of your waste stream.

When targeting a type of material, consider: the quantity generated, probability of success in reducing or recycling the material, regulations or state laws (i.e. impending landfill bans, recycling mandates), and economics (i.e.which will cost you the least to recycle). In your economic evaluation, use standard measures of profitability- payback period, return on investment, net present value; work out capital and operating cost. Cost savings and changes in revenue also need to be considered. Remember that even if the program does not break even, waste mgnagement costs are rising. An investment now is likely to pay back, if not tomorrow, then "one day after."

." FOCUS ON RESULTS: -- .

Establish a record-keeping system to track effectiveness. This involves an examination of the way materials are

and savings from reduction and recycling. For instance, you may experience savings in waste collection fees because you have diverted 20% of material for recycling, but labor costs for collecting, preparing, and storing the- recyclables may increase your operating expenses.

handled, coming in and out of your business, and which produce waste. Also, establish a system to track expenses ---

'\ 14 Keep America Beautijiul, Znc.

It is the audit team’s responsibility to continue tracking waste and identifying further opportunities for reduction/ ?cycling.

Ultimately, the success of your program should be measured by the amount and quality of waste diverted from isposal. It is important to establish a baseline measurement of waste destined for disposal, and then regularly etermine your success in reducing and/or recycling #waste.

costs:

Analyzing savings in waste disposal costs (if there are any) is another way to quantify your program results.

To find total disposal costs first add together janitorial services, garbage bills, confidential destruction costs; then Jbtract revenue from current recycling programs. This equals your total disposal cost.

In your accounting practices, apportion waste management costs to departments that generate waste.

If you lease your place of business and garbage disposal is part of the monthly rent, will the landlord offer a iscount if disposal expenses are reduced through your source reduction and recycling efforts?

~ POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT: -

As with your waste audit team, recognition of the accomplishments of the reduction/recycling program svelopers, and of employees who take initiative, go far in ensuring the success of your program. Rewarding Jggestions and /or actions that lead to waste reduction can be as simple as writing a letter of thanks and posting on a bulletin board. Financial rewards might offer a percentage of the dollars saved to a key employee or favorite iarity.

I


FoU0wring.b a list ofkey ellements in a successjidwaste reductiodrec yclhgprogram.

16 Keep America Beautiful, Znc.

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Source Reduction Considerations

reduction program can be simple, involving low-cost techniques such as improved inventory control, operations, nd maintenance. There are many ways to practice source reduction-creating less waste to begin with. Consider esignating several of the following reduction strategies as official company policy. Make sure appropriate staff , 1 1 1 ~ understand all policies adopted.

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Reduction Strategies

Purchasing

The person responsible for purchasing supplies should be directly involved in the audit process and in developing reduction program. Implementing good operating procedures will lead to waste reduction with very little special 'fort. These include material tracking and inventory control; scheduling shipments; and efficient material handling i d storage. Encourage suppliers to reduce their packaging and to use recycled materials wherever feasible.

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Keep America Beautijul, Znc. 17

Watch out for over-ordering to save on unit cost - it may lead to careless use of supplies.'Also, products with a limited shelf life, such as paint, may expire or go bad.

Order one or two copies of magazines and newspapers and encourage employees to share them, or place them jn a lounge or employee lunch room. Donate past issues of magazines to nursing homes, hospitals, or schools, Trade magazines may be welcomed by a local library or college that does not subscribe to them. Old newspapers can be used by the mailroom for packing material. It might be useful to survey employees on newspaper subscriptions.

Equipment

~

Examine the equipment used on a daily basis to determine if excess waste is created.

Photocopier: if your copy machine does not have a double side feature, consider upgrading. Many machines without the feature can make double sided copies by running the front side and then placing it upside down in the paper tray. It is a little more work, but for large runs is well worth the effort and saves you money in paper supplies and postage.,

Printers: does your printer always feed an extra sheet of paper when printing? How is this paper used? It is a ready supply of paper for drafts, or high quality material for recycling. When it is time for a new printer, look for one without this feature.

Employee training is critical. Note areas where large quantities of waste are generated. If the wastebasket near the copier or computer printer fills up often, employees may not understand how the machinery works and are making unnecessary mistakes.

Practice preventive maintenance on all equipment. Regular maintenance will extend the useful life, and reduce the amount of materials wasted when the machine is not working properly.

Cardboard boxes are currently recy'cled at a high rate because of their value. If you generate a lot of boxes and do not recycle them, consider reusing them for your own mailings, giving them to employees or moving companies, returning them to the distributor for reuse, and certainly consider recycling them.

0

Offer a discount to customers who bring in their own packaging, such as reusing grocery sacks.

Purchase materials in larger sizes and use reusable dispensers that can be refilled. For example, a single 16-

Restaurants and other food service establishments should consider donating leftover food to shelters for the

ounce can uses 68 grams of metal or 40% less than the 95.4 grams used in two 8-ounce cans.

needy.

Self-serve tap dispensers for beverages, rather than single serve items, cut down on a great deal of material requiring recycling or disposal.

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18 Keep America Beautiful, Znc.

Recycling Considerations

.ecycling offers the business community an excellent method of reducing the amount of waste disposed. 3wever, if you choose to start a recycling program, be aware that it is a significant undertaking and may cost a msiderable amount of money, particularly in the start-up phase.

The completed waste audit tells you what types of waste are produced and in what quantity. Refer to the daterials Background" section of this book. Take the information from the waste audit and determine if there e markets for any or all of these materials in your region. Since over 90% of Keep America Beautiful affiliates e involved in recycling within their communities, contacting your local affiliate is a good place to start your search r markets.

The quality and quantity of material produced is very important to the potential recycler, as is your ability to epare the materials for collection. Before you commit to a 'recycling program be sure to ask yourself if you are idling to accept the initial and perhaps on-going costs, and if there is a staff person who can oversee the program I a long-term basis. -

If you produce materials that are recyclable, but do not produce a sufficient quantity, consider joining forces with ieighboring office or business. Work with the local Chamber of Commerce or Keep America Beautiful affiliate find other businesses that are interested in recycling. You may also designate a staff person to take recyclables a community drop-off center. -

Resource Exchange

Another means of reducing your waste stream, beyond reduction and recycling, is to participate in a Resource change with other businesses. Through such an exchange ohe company's "waste" becomes another's esource." This is particularly helpful in an industrial setting.

Example: A company received large rolls'of paper wrapped in linear Low Density Polyethyl- ene. The waste audit teamdiscovers that this plastic makes up a largeportion of thefirm's waste stream and calls the local KAB affiliate for help infiguring out what to do with it. The KAB Coordinator works closely with businesseslindus tries $throughout the community and knows that it could be incorporated into the product of a plastic bag manufacturer across town. He or she puts the two in contact, and - Resource Exchange!

Composting

Retail food service companies may be able to send food waste, excluding dairy products and meats, to a -~

unicipal or private compost program.

Keep America Beautijiul, lnc. 19

,

Elements of a Commercial Recycling Program -

1 I

1 &

Try to purchase products that can be recycled in your community and emphasize the pur-

and is often easier to secure a market for than colored paper. Avoid using envelopes with plastic windows, as they cannot be recycled. If possible, suggest to your suppliers that they

chase of recycled materials. For example, white paper has more value as a secondary material

switch from plastic windows to open. See Appendix D for other important elements of a

i business recycling program. # !

t

f

I

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20 Keep America Beautifid, Inc.

This guidebook is designed to be flexible enough for use b y variety of business ectors. However, there are sbif icant differences in the types of waste merated by ofice$, retail stores, and foodlbeverage outlets. * __

R In a typical

office, each emp!n\lee discards an average of 1.7 pounds of mixed waste every day, one half pound of which is recyclable paper.

Retail

f Each employee in

retail services generates approximately 4 pounds of mixed waste every day. Waste materials include cardboard boxes, wooden pallets, packing material, plastic film, plastic buckets. In looking at a waste reduction program, retail outlets should also pay attention to how products are packaged when they arrive and how they are packaged when they leave.

In the the food/beverage industry, 14 pounds of mixed waste per day are genmted by each employee. Typically, the following materials are generated by food/beverage outlets: cardboard boxes, food waste, wooden pallets, packing material, plastic cartons/ buckets, returnable bulk dispensers, glass, plastic, aluminum and steel containers, plastic wrap, and foil. How food is served to customers and the type of utensils and napkins used, also affect the waste stream.

"Commercial Waste Reduction Audit Manual, R. W. Beck and Associates, Seattle, Washington


Appendix A

BUSINESS WASTE REDUCTION AUDIT MANUAL. Spokane Regional Solid Waste Disposal Project, WA, 1989

COMMERCIAL WASTE REDUCTION AUDIT MANUAL. City of Seattle Solid Waste Utility, R.W. Beck anc Associates, January, 1989.

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*GUIDES TO POLLUTION PREVENTION, Research and Educational Institutions. U.S. EPA, EPN625/7-90/010, June, 1990.

HANDBOOK FOR REDUCTION AND RECYCLING OF COMMERCIAL SOLID WASTE, Ocean State Cleanup 25 Recycling (OSCAR), Department of Environm.ental Management, Providence, RI.

KEEPING YOUR COMPANY GREEN. Stefan Bechtel and the Editors of Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1990.

*PROFITING FROM WASTE REDUCTION IN YOUR SMALL BUSINESS: A Guide to Help You Identify, Implement and Evaluate an Industrial Waste Reduction Program. Alaska Health Project, 1 988.

REDUCE YOUR WASTE SIZE!: A Guide to Developing a Commercial/lndustrial Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling Plan. Metropolitan Toronto Works Department.

"THE GREEN BUSINESS LETTER." Tilden Press Inc., Washington, D.C.

*WASTE REDUCTION ASSESSMENT AND TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER TRAINING MANUAL. Tennessee Valley Authority, Waste Tech no logy Program .

WASTE REDUCTION HANDBOOK FOR COMMERCIAL BUSINESSES. Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Asheville, NC.

WASTE EXCHANGE INFORMATION

*NORTHEAST INDUSTRIAL WASTE EXCHANGE INC. Listings Catalogue, 90 Presidential Plaza, Suite 1 22, Syracuse, NY 13202. (31 5) 422-6572.

*RESOURCE EXCHANGE AND NEWS. Grands Rapids, MI (61 6) 363-3262.

*WASTE WATCHER SOUTHEAST WASTE EXCHANGE. NC Department of Economic and Community De- velopment. Urban Institute, Department of Civil Engineering, The University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223.

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*Addresses industrial and hazardous waste analysis.

22 Keep America Beautijful, Inc.

Appendix B ~

[Keep America Beautiful FOCUS fact sheet No.3: Marketing Recyclables, May 19901

When implementing a recycling program, whether community-wide or at an office building, the most important ling to plan for is the markets to which the collected recyclables will be sold. Reasonable assurance that markets )r the recovered materials exist before collecting them is a necessity. Otherwise, collection efforts will result in Dthing more than the landfilling of separated trash. Contrary to public perception, recycling involves more than le collection of material; recycling occurs when the collected materials are sold to manufacturers for reprocessing to a usable product, returned to the marketplace, and purchased for use.

Before beginning a collection program, take time to carefully study the materials markets. For a municipal .ogram, taking as long as one year to find markets, develop a relationship, and sign a contract is not uncommon. emember, a recycling program is a competitive business operation, the collected recyclables are commodities, i d markets often fluctuate with the economy. For those new to the recycling industry, look for a mentor who is miliar with the complexities of the field.

Determining the goals and purpose of a collection program, prior to contacting markets, is useful in determining le feasibility of the program. Is the program's goal to make money, reduce landfill space, or simply be a good tizen? Will it be possible to operate on a break-even basis? In some regions;the sale of recyclables will not cover ierating costs, so collecting recyclables may not be a good way to raise funds for a local charity. Alternatively, e cost avoidance associated with recycling, rather than landfilling or incinerating material, may make it an :onomical option. Diverting material for recycling extends the life of a landfill, an important consideration as these cilities become increasingly expensive and difficult to site.

Following are recommendations for marketing your recyclables:

~

Consistently high quality and quantity will enhance the ability to secure long term commitments from arkets. iviost materiais are worth consiaerabiy more if kepr separate, but aiways check wirh iocai markets. Often, iarantees are required for collecting and delivering a certain tonnage of material on a regular basis. Generally, the ore material collected, the better the chances are for getting a fair price.

Don't sell garbage. Recycling programs collect a raw material for use by manufacturers; therefore quality is ost important. Contaminants such as ceramic material in glass, excessive moisture in used beverage cans, or 3per touched by food can ruin the entire batch of recyclables. As an example, a piece of ceramic the size of a iarter will break into 10,000 pieces and contaminate an entire truckload of glass!

The best place to begin the search for markets is the local yellow pages. Check under "scrap" or "wastepaper" ?alers and "recycling." Industry trade associations and state agencies also develop lists of materials buyers. jditionally, several helpful guides are available for purchase. For example. American Recycling Markets 105.00), published by Recoup Publishing Limited, lists 15,000 companies, agencies, and recyclers. Information in be obtained by writing P.O. Box 577, Ogdensurgh, NY 13699 or by calling (800) 267-0707. ~

-- Conduct a market survey. Locate users of materials you plan to collect within a certain radius. Become familiar ith local industry and the ability of known recycling plants to process materials to market specifications, such as ding paper, crushing glass containers, or flattening cans.

Keep America Beautiful, Inc. 23

Work with local markets, if possible. Even if the price offered is lower than that of a dealer in the next county, transportation and communication savings may offset the difference. Therefore, it is important to compare net,

e rather than gross selling prices. One KAB coordinator reports that it costs between $1 .OO and $1 2 0 per mile tc deliyer a 20-ton truckload of recyclables to their markets. This expenditure eats directly into profits. __

Estimate quantities of material to be collected and put out a request for proposals (RFP). Then begin the negotiation process. Negotiable items include freight, collection containers, allowable levels of contaminants,- method and time for payment, and length of contract. Contracts can protect both buyers and sellers against severe-- fluctuation by establishing a floor price when the market is down, and a discount when the market is up.

When collecting sufficient quantities of material, selling them directly to manufacturers or mills may be possible. Scrap processors and dealers act a middlemen and purchase material form many sources. Many times a higher pcice can be commanded if recycled materials are sold straight to a mill. However, there is always a risk that the mill will go on strike or perhaps shut down. The size of the program will dictate the marketing of the material.

Talk with several companies before making any commitments. In a multimaterial collection program, working with a number of materials buyers is likely.

Get the facts. Clearly understand the responsibilities born6 by the dealer and the program operator. Include them in the contract. Understand the vendors' specifications. Should glass be color separated and crushed? May magazines be mixed with newsprint? Specifications will determine what type of equipment you may need to purchase, such as balers or shredders.

Network with surrounding communities to learn about potential markets. Consider cooperative marketing with surrounding areas if your volumes are not high enough to demand competitive prices.

It is important to deal with reputable materials users. Companies with established track records are the- safest. If negotiations are being held with-a small company, or one that is unfamiliar, it pays to carefully check their background. Established firms will often provide technical assistance, keep customers apprised of market fluctuations, as well as clinical, downturns and upswings, and adjust prices accordingly.

Beware nf dea!ers that dc! nnt make regu!ar pick-ups, d isp~fe tonnage, or ?ai! to make time!)/ payments. Cash flow is a very important consideration for fledgling operations.

Develop long-term relationships with buyers. For example, it is not advisable to switch to a new wastepaper dealer just because they are offering $1 .OO more a ton than the recycler you have been dealing with for the last several years. If there is a market downturn, the steady buyer will be more inclined to stand by you, if you stand by him.

Beware of price optimism. When checking published lists of prices paid for recyclables, realize that it is not possible to earn that much on a long-term basis. Spot prices do not accurately reflect the prices earned in exchange for a long-term contract. Nevertheless, it is a good idea to regularly monitor market prices to make sure the price is in the ballpark. Recycling Times, published bi-weekly by the National Solid Wastes Management Association in

Expenses may exceed income, particularly with a curbside program. However, the avoided cost of not-

,

~

' Washington, D.C. is a good source.

landfilling or incinerating material will likely result in significant savings.

Be flexible. If the market collapses, look to other management alternatives. For example, if it is impossible to sell newsprint to a paper dealer or mill, perhaps it can be sold for use as animal bedding or cellulose insulation.

Close the loop. The best way to-sustain and strengthen recycling is to purchase products made with recycled material.

24 Keep America BeautLjiul, Znc.

'Appendix C

Equipment

This section describes equipment used for processing recyclables. Most recycling equipment reduces the Aume of your recyclable materials. Where space is a consideration, processing equipment may allow a business I store the minimum quantities required for collection by a recycler. Catalogues of some of the companies that ipply this equipment are listed a t the end of this section. Equipment is classified by material.

PAPER

(High grade, l o w grade)

Compactors

Vertical Balers

Some haulers/recyclers will accept paper collected in roll- off compactors, usually a t a fee.

Compacts all grades of paper into small, dense bales.

ALUMINUM CANS

Flatteners Variety of sizes and capacities. Quickly flattens single cans for easier storage.

Briquetters

Balers (see above)

Larger than Flatteners. Compacts cans into small bricks of aluminum. May require less contamination.

Some aluminum balers are larger than paper balers.

PLASTIC

(HDPE, PETE, others)

Perforators

Balers (see above)

GLASS

(Clear, Brown, Green)

Dumpsters

Crushers

Increase density of plastic before baling.

Divided dumpsters, sometimes supplied by recyclers, allow businesses to break bottles to reduce volume.

Crushes glass. Crushers come in a variety of sizes and capacities and produce a variety of cullet sizes.


Consult with your recycler before purchasing or renting equipment to process your recyclables. Be certain tha. the processing is compatible with his/her operations. Your recycler may also supply processing equipment. Usec equipment can often be obtained at significantly lower prices.

-~

Waste Age Directory to Waste Systems and Services Waste Age Publications P.O. Box 5001 Washington, DC 20064-5001

Resource Recycling Recycling Equipment Guide Resource Recycling, Inc. 161 5 N.W. 23rd Suite 1, P.O. Box 10540 Portland, OR 9721 0

I

~

reprinted dith permission of the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management

26 Keep America Beautiful, lnc.

Appendix D

IMPORTANT PROGRAM ELEMENTS

order to establish a good program for buying recycled products, organizations should include the illowing key elements:

1. Commitment to buy- Organizations must establish a policy to buy recycled products. This commitment necessary to provide leadership to users and to convince manufacturers that a consistent, long-term de- and exists so that they can invest in recycling equipment.

/

2. Review purchasing specifications - All specifications must be reviewed to eliminate prohibitions or iitations against recycled products. In addition, more subtle obstacles to purchasing recycled products, such brightness levels for paper, must be identified and revised.

3. Common definitions and percentages - Organizations should use existing minimum content standards d definitions, such as those established by the US. EPA or the Northeast Recycling Council. Manufacturers nnol supply different products to the 50 states, 83,166 local governments, and thousands of private organi- tions. By making one end product, manufacturers can produce shelf items instead of specialty items, lower- 3 the cost of production.

4. Varietyofproducts- Even though paper makes up the largest percentage of the waste stream, buying cycled paper alone will not solve the solid waste problem. Organizations should consider buying a variety of cycled products, including but not limited to, paper, oil, plastics, auto parts, compost, aggregate, insulation, lvents and rubber products. Organizations should also consider recycling services such as tire retreading or recycling .

5. Testing products - Organizations should test recycled products to determine how they work on certain luipment and for particular end uses. Tests should be done "blind" so that recycled and virgin products can 1 compared without bias.

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6. Phased-in approach - Organizations should phase-in use of recycled products so that users can adjust to 9 program and manufacturers can make long-term capital investments to retool equipment to accept re- cled materials.

7. Price incentives - Recycled products may be more expensive than virgin products due to tax policies, ice fluctuations, or economies of scale in production or end use. Organizations should use preferences (of 5- O%), life-cycle costing, or use of set-asides (where recycled products are purchased separately). Any extra nds spent should be viewed as an investment in market development, the same as collection equipment, aterials recycling facilities, trucks, and other costs of collecting recyclables.

8. Cooperation between solid waste and purchasing officials - Both solid waste and purchasing officials ve expertise and experience which should be used to develop an effective program for buying recycled oducts.


9. Cooperation among manufacturers, vendors, andusers- Organizations must actively solicit and publicize bids from manufacturers and vendors of recycled products. Manufacturers and vendors must provide a wide range of recycled products and let users know about the products. Information on recycled products is available from the Official Recycled Products Guide (800-267-0707, $195/yr. for 2 issues), a listing of recycled products. The EPI procurement guideline hotline (703-941 -4452) can provide information on manufacturers and vendors that mee; the EPA standards.

10. Cooperatiwepurchasing- Organizations should join together to buy recycled products. These cooperative purchases expand the volume of products purchased, reduce unit costs of recycled products, help ensure availability, and establish common definitions and percentages. States and local governments can establist- regional programs; non-profits and community groups can buy together, and businesses can establish join. programs.

11. Data- Organizations should keep good records on buying recycled products and share this information wi t t others. The National Recycling Coalition is currently attempting to collect this data.

12. Marketdevelopment- Procurement strategies alone will not be sufficient to creale markets. Government: must establish a market development strategy to create or expand markets for recyclables. In addition t c procurement, the strategy can include identifying existing users of recycled material, and incentives for new anc existing businesses such as tax credits, siting and zoning assistance, loans and grants.

13. Source separation - In order to provide materials for recycled products, collection programs musi emphasize source separating clean, quality material that meets manufacturers' specifications. Recycling program: should focus on collecting high value materials for recycling, not simply on diverting material from the landfill. FOP example, ledger and computer paper should be collected instead of mixed paper. This will help ensure that ran materials are available to make high quality recycled products.

28 Keep America Beautgut, Inc.

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