waste disposal...
Every
year in California we generate approximately 435 million tons of
garbage. About half of this comes from business and
industry.
Questions to ask about waste
disposal at your company:
-
Are we reducing, reusing and
recycling?
-
Are we recycling everything we
possibly can? (see business
recycling)
-
Are we disposing of hazardous
waste, used oil, and chemicals and batteries properly? (see chemicals
& batteries)
-
Can we find replacements for some
of the substances we're using? (see if you use
solvents)
For information go to the County's LessIsMore
website
Santa
Barbara County Mandatory Business Recycling Program and
in the City of Santa Barbara,
www.SBrecycles.org.
County
Recycling Providers and Contacts
The Three R's: How Your Business Can
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Try making an audit of your trash. What
percentage is packaging, or reusable materials, or paper? Pick
the top few culprits and implement a program to reduce or
eliminate certain waste streams.
For a 3-page guide from the United States
Environmental Protection
Agency’s “Consumer Handbook for Reducing Solid Waste,” go to the
County's LessIsMore website
Waste Prevention Tips.
Following are a few
suggestions.
REDUCE trash by not producing it in the
first place
Print only what you need. Proof documents on
the computer screen. Archive documents on backup disks. Use a
central filing system to eliminate multiple copies from being
filed around the office. Eliminate unnecessary reports.
Circulate rather than copy memos, documents, periodicals and
reports. Post company memos on voice or electronic mail or on a
central bulletin board.
- Keep mailing lists current to avoid
duplication.
- Reduce the flow of junk mail to your office
by sending a postcard to Mail Preference Service: P.O. Box
9008, Farmingdale, NY, 11735 requesting that your company's
name be taken off all mailing lists.
- Buy in bulk and choose products that use
less packaging. Work with companies that do the same.
Minimize the packaging of any product your company produces.
- Use reusable and/or recyclable containers
for shipping your products.
- Rent equipment that is used only
occasionally, and buy equipment that is built to last.
Establish a regular maintenance routine to prolong the life
of copiers, computers and other equipment.
Make double sided copies, use refillable pens,
buy reusable mugs for employees and guests, use dish towels
instead of paper towels.
REUSE items until they are no longer usable
Reuse file folders, cardboard boxes,
envelopes, the back side of paper for internal notes and memos,
paper clips, rubber bands, packing peanuts, etc.
Give leftover styrofoam peanuts and bubblewrap
to Mail Boxes, Etc. Reuse newspaper and shredded paper for
packing.
- Refill and reuse fax, printer, and copier
cartridges. Laser Cartridge Co. (683-4871) will pick up old cartridges and
return them refilled to your office.
- Donate unused materials to
Art
From Scrap, and old desks, office equipment, carpeting,
telephones, and other items to Goodwill or the Salvation
Army. Give old computers to the Computers for Schools
program (call 1-800-939-6000 to see if your computer will be
accepted.)
RECYCLE as many materials as possible
- Recycle office paper.
- Arrange to recycle aluminum, glass, hard
plastics #1-7, newspaper, cardboard, and magazines
in your break area.
- Recycle old telephone books through
County-sponsored programs when the new phone books come
out.
- Recycle fluorescent lightbulbs, batteries
and other materials at an appropriate collection
center.
- If your maintenance crew is planning a
major tree trimming, pruning, or grass cutting, arrange for
a dumpster for green waste.
|
