WASTE IN THE WORKPLACE

Waste In The Workplace

Keep America Beautiful, Inc.

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Keep America Beautiful

• National, nonprofit organization

• More than 580 local, state and international affiliates

• Mission: engage individuals to take greater responsibility for improving community environment

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The Issue:

• 230 million tons of trash are created each year in the U.S.

• Commercial waste is almost ½ of MSW

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What Can We Do?

The answer is in: Waste In The

Workplace• Small business waste

audit guide• Developed with the

assistance of the solid waste community

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Why Minimize Your Waste?

3 Good Reasons:1. Good for the

Environment 2. Good for Your

Bottom Line3. Good for Public

Relations

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The Bottom Line:

Waste minimization will make your business more efficient and competitive.

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The KAB Way

• Get the Facts• Involve the People• Develop a Plan• Focus on Results• Provide Positive

Reinforcement

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Get the Facts

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Involve the People

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Develop a Plan

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Focus on Results

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Provide Positive Reinforcement

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Waste In The Workplace:The Guide

Commercial Waste OverviewChapter 1: Conducting a Waste

AuditChapter 2: Implementing a Waste

Minimization PlanAppendices

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Chapter 1:Conducting A Waste

AuditSelect a waste audit team to begin collecting background information about your current waste status.

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Select A Waste Audit Team

• Represent all areas of your business• Team size will vary

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The Waste Audit Team• Maintenance• Cleaning• Mailroom• Purchasing• Building Manager• Clerical• Management• Production Line

Include representatives from each area of your business.

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Top Management

• Top management must be involved

• Need decision-making authority

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The Walk-throughProfile 1

• Inspect where, how and how much materials are being received.

• What is thrown away in each area?

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The Trash Sort Profile 2

Sort through the waste generated in one day:

• Spread out a large plastic sheet

• Dump the day’s waste on it • Estimate the % of each

category in the waste stream• Clean up afterwards

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Materials Quantification

Profile 2• Identify Waste • Determine the % of the waste

stream represented by each type of waste

• Conduct a trash sort• If waste changes over time, you

may need to repeat the trash sort

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Materials Quantification

Profiles 3A & 3B

Purchasing records will help• What products are ordered?• What is used?• What is recycled?• What is left to throw away?

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You do the Math

+ Material received

– Material not discarded

– Amount recycled

= Amount of material discarded

(waste you PAY to have disposed)

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MSW

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Chapter 2:Implementing A Waste

Minimization Plan

Analyze Waste Audit Results• Evaluate source reduction options first• Consider largest % of the waste stream• After considering reduction and reuse

options then, look at recycling options• Start with simple reduction goals

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Developing the Plan

• Identify expectations• Identify responsibilities• Establish a timetable• Gather data• Analyze results• Make recommendations

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Work Systematically

Consider:• Quantity generated• Probability of success• Regulations or state laws and • Economics (which will cost you the

least to recycle)

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Waste reduction is a company-wide effort.

Educate and Inform: all employees, including management, of the plan and its goals.

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Ways to raise employee awareness:

Continuous Education • Small Division Meetings• Trainings (production line, copier,

etc.)• Updates • Posters • Mascot

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Focus on Results

• Keep good records• Conduct periodic samplings• Measure the waste being diverted

from disposal

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Celebrate Your Success

Reward those who make the plan work

• Give recognition to the audit team • Reward suggestions and/or actions • Offer financial incentives

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Have a party!

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Waste Minimization Tips

• Educate all employees• Gain upper management support• Organize an audit task force • Establish a baseline to measure

progress• Commit to accurate waste accounting • Incorporate a source reduction ethic

into corporate culture • Evaluate the program

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Source Reduction and Reuse

The three R’s:•Reduce•Reuse•Recycle•Recycling should be the last of the

three that you do.

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Before you commit to a recycling program:

Are you willing to:• Accept initial and on-going costs?• Assign staff to oversee the program

on a long-term basis?• Join forces with a neighboring office

or business, if needed?

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Recycling Considerations

Appendix A• Markets• Volume• Security• Equipment• Compostin

g

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Commercial Recycling Tips

• Educate and involve all employees• Conduct a Waste Audit• Research Markets (Appendix B)• Identify and contact hauler • Determine space, container, equipment

needs (Appendix C)• Publicize revenues and costs• Purchase materials that can be recycled

locally • Purchase materials that contain recycled

content (Appendix D)

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Keys to Success

PERSISTENCE

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Waste in the Workplace