Spring Greening: “Growing Green”

Being efficient in your management of waste materials is a good start but to continue in “growing green” you will need to work on implementing or renewing your recycling program.

• Form a “green team”- A “green team” is a group of employees interested in recycling and helping to set up a program.
• Determine materials you will recycle- Pick off the easy things first such as packaging materials or high volume scrap waste
• Contact a recycling company- Find a reputable company that offers a “one stop shop” for as many materials as possible. (you know who we recommend)
• Coordinate collection — Internal and external. Consider:
• Small bins — You can provide durable recycling containers to each staff person or ask them to use copy paper boxes or something similar at their work stations or points of generation.
• Central bins — Locate large recycling bins in a designated area of the plant for smaller bins to migrate to.
• Collection — Create a regular schedule and determine who will pick up recycling from the small and central bins. It may be staff, janitorial crew or a combination. Mark containers with signs labeled by item
• Educate staff — Distribute fact sheets describing the new recycling program for employees and janitorial staff, post updates on your company’s intranet site, seek staff’s suggestions
• Maintain your program
• Do a regular evaluation of your recycling program with the green team and management.
• Update your employees regularly on the program’s progress.
• Send out periodic recycling reminders.
• Make recycling part of new employees orientation